from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

So Barry Trotz is out as the Nashville Predators’ head coach after 15 seasons at the helm, the longest-tenured coach in the league finally paying the price for two consecutive playoffs absences. What Trotz could have done differently to keep Pekka Rinne healthy is a question for another day, but the overriding sense was that the Predators were going to make a coaching move after this year unless they miracle playoff run.

The name most closely linked to Nashville is that of former Philadelphia Flyers’ coach Peter Laviolette, with whom David Poile, the Nashville Predators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, has a good relationship with through their USA Hockey backgrounds.

Trotz immediately goes to the top of the list of possible replacement for other teams that did not immediately fire coaches Monday morning. Could he be a fit in Vancouver, for example, if the Canucks ultimately decide to part ways with John Tortorella? Trotz has all of Tortorella’s experience, but a far greater ability to work with players and get the most out of them. If the plan in Vancouver is to retool rather than rebuild and hope the Sedins bounce back in a meaningful way, then Trotz could be a good choice.

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