Nichol and Dime: Scott Nichol’s Path to Nashville’s Front Office
A 20 year career in just about any line of work is unheard of nowadays. When you have a two-decade long, on-ice career in hockey, it is just that much more impressive.
While not all 20 years were served in the NHL, Scott Nichol’s final professional game came exactly two decades after he was drafted in 1993. Spending time with the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and, lastly, St. Louis Blues, Nichol hung up his skates in 2013 after 662 regular-season NHL games.
Upon his retirement from on-ice play, it did not take Nichol long to transition into the next phase of his career.
“2012-13 was my last year in St. Louis, I was 38 years old, I remember I had core surgery and had taken a puck to the face,” said Nichol while in discussion with Daily Faceoff. “A few days after my surgery [then Predators GM] David Poile reached out to [Blues GM] Doug Armstrong to speak with me. He asked me if I was interested in player development.
“That’s how I got my foot in the door. It was a great segway while staying in hockey along with being able to drive your kids to school and be there for them growing up. You’re able to touch everything from the amateur to the pro side; I coached a little bit but veered towards the path of management. I felt like there was a little more stability in management rather than the coaching side.”
Moving into player development directly after playing was an easy transition for Nichol, as the last four years of his career were spent helping to groom up-and-coming centermen to eventually succeed him on teams he was playing for. As a depth centerman in the twilight of his career, Nichol was helping develop the pivots of tomorrow even during the final years of his playing days.
Upon retirement, returning to Rochester, New York was important to Nichol. Being able to do a large portion of his newfound role in Nashville’s player development side from his home city was a prerequisite; it allowed him to be around his family and coach his children in their own hockey.
Ten years later, Nichol has retained his role as director of player development, but has also had the titles of assistant GM and GM of the Milwaukee Admirals added to his portfolio. The new titles have obviously come with new responsibilities. His role as GM in the AHL is very similar to what one would do in the NHL: hiring your staff, coaches, player movement, signing players for the ECHL, etc. He tries to get down to Milwaukee at least two times a month, while also communicating with the Predators’ coaches on the players who directly came from the system with the Admirals.
But his role as the AGM with the Predators is one that is much different.
“As AGM in Nashville, we have a really good management team with Jeff Kealty, Brian Poile, Barry Trotz and David Poile,” said Nichol. “We throw trade ideas and bounce them off each other. Staff hiring, day to day stuff – it just never ends. I traveled a little bit more with the Predators last year with Trotzy as the GM.
“Everyday is a new challenge, but I love it.”
As Nichol mentioned, he had a chance to touch a lot of different elements of an organization. Starting in player development while also getting a chance to coach with Trotz for a bit, Nichol had the opportunity to go in several directions in his post playing career. Even aside from staying in the game, which was very important to Nichol, many players have elected to go the media route more than ever in their post playing career.
But for Nichol, it seemed like management was always the best path for him.
“I have a good knack for communicating with the young guys,” said Nichol. “Being an 11th round pick, it wasn’t like I was handed anything. I played seven years in the American Hockey League; I played a long time in the NHL because I can be accountable to the star players and to myself.
“I lived my dream – I wanted to pass it along to younger players. How you get called up, sent down, getting injured and bouncing back from injuries. I think I can relate well to the young guys coming in.”
Nichol is very proud of what they have built in Milwaukee. Even though it’s in the AHL, Nichol described it as a “second chance” destination for players. Citing players like Colin Blackwell, Rocco Grimaldi, Freddy Gaudreau, Michael McCarron and Jarred Tinordi, Nichol believes the Admirals have found a niche with giving players who needed a fresh start a chance to work their way back up into being NHLers.
Not every player in the minors can be treated the same, as there is a difference between dealing with young players cutting their teeth at the professional level and seasoned veterans looking to fight their way back into the NHL.
“The key with the younger players is communication and letting them know that you care,” said Nichol. “Take them for lunch and show that you have their best interest in mind. They have a lot of pressure on them and communication is key. Making them feel comfortable; we implemented a father’s trip in the American league, which isn’t something many teams do. We do that to show that this isn’t college or juniors anymore – I think that really helps.”
It isn’t always the case that a former player making the transition into management gets to be under the learning tree of one of the best to ever do it. For Nichol, he had that opportunity when he was brought in to Nashville and was able to learn from Poile.
Poile, who was the inaugural GM of the Predators and the only one in franchise history until 2023, is regarded as one of the best NHL executives since the turn of the millennium. The experience Nichol had by getting to work with Poile was invaluable, as one would imagine.
“I played for David – a lot of the values that he has is family, honesty and communication,” said Nichol. “Everyone is included, he lets everybody speak their mind – that’s the biggest thing I took away from working with David. He is so organized, planned out from year 1 to year 4. Things change on a piece of paper, but there isn’t anything that surprises him.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, if someone emails or calls him, he’ll call them back. I take that to heart. He’s been a mentor for me.”
The 2024 NHL offseason was a “back to normal” one in a lot of ways for how money was spent in free agency, and no team stole headlines quite like the Predators. Inking the likes of Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei and Steven Stamkos to new contracts, Trotz and company certainly spared no expense in looking to upgrade their team. The Predators also locked up starting goaltender Juuse Saros to a brand-new contract a year before he was slated to become a UFA.
Transitioning from Poile to Trotz as GM has been a fun ride for Nichol, and the new direction of the Predators is a cause for excitement within the organization.
“I think both Poile and Trotz have the core values that they have instilled in this organization,” Nichol said. “Treating people the way you want to be treated, culture wise, family wise – just doing the right thing.
“We’re really excited with the new direction of the team after pivoting and we have great people and players here. I’m really excited to start the season.”
Much like his time as a player, Nichol, 49, has worked hard to get to where he is in management, fueled by passion and love for the game. The work and effort that he put in with the Admirals has not gone unnoticed, and the Predators have reaped the rewards of it.
As the Predators look to take a step back into the realm of Stanley Cup contention, you have to wonder if the Nichol’s work will garner attention for a promotion. More than ever, we are seeing former players who have worked their way up the ranks end up with significant front office positions. Danny Briere (Philadelphia Flyers GM) and Craig Conroy (Flames GM) are recent examples of that, while Alex Steen is the GM in waiting with the Blues; one has to wonder if a similar end result is in the cards for Nichol.
The Predators enter the season as one of the league’s most exciting stories, but what will continue to go on behind the scenes with Nichol – both in the NHL and AHL – will surely continue to be impressive. If things continue to trend in the way they have been for several years, we may be hearing the name “Scott Nichol” much more often.
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