‘I don’t want you to come here to retire’: Predators GM Barry Trotz unhappy with Tyson Barrie’s response to being scratched

Barry Trotz is not happy with Tyson Barrie.

The new Nashville Predators general manager unloaded on the veteran defenceman on the Nashville radio station 102.5 The Game on Tuesday night, criticizing how Barrie responded to being made a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers.

“Tyson’s game hasn’t translated as well as we had liked with us this year,” Trotz told radio host Jared Stillman. “He’s having a tough time not being on the first power play [unit] … so, the other night, he was healthy scratched for the first time in his career.

“Different players react to it differently,” Trotz continued. “I didn’t like the way he reacted to it.”

Barrie, 32, joined the Predators from the Edmonton Oilers ahead of the 2023 trade deadline in a deal which saw Mattias Ekholm head the other way. The Predators also received forward prospect Reid Schaefer and two draft picks in the trade.

Through 22 games with the Predators this season, Barrie has managed just nine points. He amassed 13 goals and 55 points in 82 games split between Edmonton and Nashville in the 2022–23 regular season.

As the news of Barrie being made a healthy scratch came out on Saturday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also reported that Barrie’s camp had been granted permission by the Predators to seek a trade. Barrie is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Trotz didn’t refute Friedman’s report, but he was certainly unhappy that it became public knowledge.

“We were very disappointed it got out, because there’s only about four people in the world that knew about it,” Trotz said. “I was very disappointed in that. It didn’t come from the Preds, I do know that 100 percent.

“Obviously, someone felt that it should be out there and they put it out there,” Trotz continued. “We will get on the phones and say ‘Tyson’s not happy in his situation right now, are there any takers?’ There might be, might not. And I’m sure him and his agent will be doing the same thing.”

Barrie also did not play in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, which the Predators won by a 2–1 score. It’s unclear whether he’ll draw into the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Either way, it seems as though Barrie isn’t long for the Predators organization, with Trotz saying he was “very disappointed in how Tyson handled” being scratched.

“I want you to come here to win,” Trotz said. “I don’t want you to come here to retire.”

Through 790 career NHL games with the Predators, Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche, Barrie has collected 108 goals and 499 points. He’s added two goals and 20 points in 46 playoff contests.