BREAKING: Barry Trotz to become the successor to David Poile as Nashville GM

Former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is returning to his former and current home.

On Sunday, SportsNet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Nashville's David Poile is retiring from President of Hockey Operations & GM position, effective June 30, and that Trotz will be his successor. Polie is the only GM in Nashville Predators franchise history.

Trotz coached 1,196 games with the Predators from their first season in 1998-99 through 2013-14. Since Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello relived Trotz of his duties after the 2021-22 season, hockey fans have wondered where Trotz would next land as a coach or if he would prefer to be in a front office role at this stage of his career and life.

Back in June, Trotz confirmed that he was not looking to coach during the 2022-23 season and it was reported that he had already talked to Nashville about a front-office role. Also in June, it was reported that Trotz and his family had purchased a residence in music city.

The 60-year-old Trotz coached the Washington Capitals from 2014-18 after leaving Nashville, where the Caps were consistently a top team in the Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup contender. After several playoff disappointments, the team captured the Stanley Cup in 2018, defeating the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in the Final.

After not coming to terms with Washington's front office on an extension, Lamoriello named Trotz the Islanders coach as his first move toward changing the culture of the franchise and turnaround a team that had allowed the most goals in the NHL during the previous season.

Under Trotz's structure, the team had a remarkable turnaround and won the Jennings Trophy, awarded to the team that allows the fewest goals in the NHL. Trotz also won the Jack Adams award after that first season on the Island, the second time he won the award.

TheI Isles made the playoffs three consecutive seasons and advanced to the NHL's final four in successive seasons, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning both times.