Trotz: 'I'm going to start our rebuild plan' if Preds don't get going

Months after the Nashville Predators were the talk of the league for spending lavishly in free agency, general manager Barry Trotz is threatening to change course if his team doesn't bounce back from a poor start.

"I'm trying to do some things right now," Trotz told 102.5 The Game. "We will be limited a little bit because of some of the contracts that we do have. If we don't get it going, then I'm going to start our rebuild plan a little bit."

The Predators committed a combined $108.5 million to Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei over the offseason. They started the season with five consecutive losses and currently sit last in the Central Division with a 4-7-1 record.

"What we did in the summer was, as I say, fantasy hockey until we become a good team," Trotz said. "If we do not become a good team, then we're gonna see a lot more of our kids starting their process. Like I said, we brought in the veteran players to extend this year and be a threat."

In October, Trotz said he was trying to acquire a center, but noted the trade market was inactive early in the season.

Trotz took over as Nashville's GM in July 2023. The Preds started last season poorly as well, but they ultimately made the playoffs after going 18 games without a regulation loss.