{"id":555392,"date":"2026-04-18T17:06:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555392\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:06:23","slug":"former-alabama-football-coach-nick-saban-involved-in-predators-gm-interviews-per-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555392\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban involved in Predators\u2019 GM interviews, per report"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Nashville Predators<\/a> continue their search for a new general manager, they may be getting some help from former Alabama football coach Nick Saban<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Saban has been assisting majority owner Bill Haslam during recent in-person interviews.<\/p>\n

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“I believe that in this round of in person (interviews), Nick Saban\u2019s played a pretty big role,” Friedman said on an April 17 episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I think he\u2019s asking questions, I think he\u2019s sizing up the candidates.”<\/p>\n

A representative for the Predators<\/a> told The Tennessean on April 18 that they would not release any details on their GM search, including potential candidates or where they are in the process.<\/p>\n

Saban became minority owner of the Predators<\/a> in December, purchasing stake in the team alongside business partner Joe Agresti through Dream Sports Ventures LLC. After retiring as coach of Alabama in 2024, Saban became part of the ESPN “College GameDay” crew before showing interest in sports ownership. He was also a part of Haslam’s bid to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to Nashville in 2025.<\/p>\n

When Predators current GM Barry Trotz announced his retirement in Feb. 2, Haslam initially hired CAA to help guide the search. That didn’t last long \u2013 CAA withdrew from the search a week later<\/a>, citing potential conflict of interest – but Haslam also mentioned on Feb. 2 that the team’s search process would involve several internal voices, including Saban’s.<\/p>\n

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Haslam also said he wants to make the hire in time for the NHL draft in June, but ideally by sometime in May.<\/p>\n

BARRY RETIRING: For Barry Trotz, it was about choosing family over being Predators’ GM<\/a><\/p>\n

Included in Friedman’s report was knowledge that the team has interviewed current Predators assistant GM Jeff Kealty, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Darren Yorke, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, and Edmonton Oilers assistant GM Bill Scott. The team is also expected to interview former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald and New York Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin.<\/p>\n

DRAFT ODDS: Can Nashville Predators win the No. 1 overall pick? NHL draft lottery odds set<\/a><\/p>\n

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Alex Daugherty is the Predators<\/a> beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com<\/a>. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1<\/a>. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nick Saban involved in Nashville Predators\u2019 GM interviews<\/a><\/p>\n