Nashville Predators fans anxiously await the final word on next season's coach.

One of the hottest topics this offseason for the Nashville Predators is about the future of head coach John Hynes. Hynes has one more year remaining on his contract, but with Barry Trotz taking over the reins of the organization, speculation has run wild that the new GM could bring in his own handpicked head coach to start the 2023-2024 season. 

It's been challenging to get a read on where Trotz stands with regards to John Hynes and his future behind the bench. At the end of the season press conference, Trotz was complimentary but noncommittal about Hynes. 

"John has done a terrific job in us doing a little bit of a tear down with some guys," Trotz stated in April. "The one thing that John has done is he looked at the roster, he prepared the roster, and got them ready to find a way to win down the stretch, so compliment to John and his staff for that."

When asked directly about coaching moving forward, Trotz stopped short of confirming that Hynes would lead the team next season.

"John has a contract, and as I said, this will be a process. John is going to talk about his plan for next year and go from there. That's the process, and you've got to respect the process."

Many Predators fans are clamoring for a coaching change after lobbing criticism at Hynes for player development. After the trade deadline sell off and a slew of veteran injuries, Hynes led a young team to a late playoff push that came up just short. That still isn't enough for many vocal hockey fans in Nashville to embrace another year under Hynes. 

The obvious frontrunner if Hynes is not brought back behind the bench is Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor. Taylor was named head coach of the Admirals in June 2018, and last season received the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's Outstanding Coach. With the Predators looking at a "reset' featuring young players, Taylor is a top candidate for Nashville and for other teams who may be looking for a fresh face to lead an NHL team. 

That's not to say that Taylor is the certain choice if Trotz decides to go a different direction than John Hynes this season. While Nashville fans may assume Taylor is the heir apparent, Barry Trotz also has a large hockey circle and may have some personal choices beyond Taylor. 

Elliotte Friedman said in his 32 Things podcast this week that he expects the Predators to announce their coaching decision sooner rather than later. 

"I think you get to the point where you have to say to your coaches we're in or you're in or you're out." 

With a "reset" underway, nailing down the head coaching position - at least for next season - will be a priority in the very near future for Barry Trotz. 

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