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End of an era: Trotz out as Nashville head coach

Los Angeles Kings v Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators reacts to a call during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Bridgestone Arena on February 7, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

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The first and only head coach in Nashville Predators history has reportedly been let go.

Barry Trotz, who’s been behind the Predators bench for 16 seasons and was the longest active-tenured coach in the NHL, will be relieved of his duties, according to The Tennessean.

UPDATE: The Preds have confirmed Trotz will not be back next season, but has been offered a job in the hockey operations department.

“Our organization has high expectations and we have not met them in the past two seasons,” Nashville GM David Poile said. “As a result, it is my decision and determination that we need a new voice and a new direction.”

The 51-year-old Trotz was hired by Poile in 1997 to lead the expansion club and has remained in Nashville ever since, second only to Gregg Popovich of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs in terms of longest-tenured coaches in the fourth major North American pro sports leagues.

Trotz established himself as one of the NHL’s most respected bench bosses during his time with the Preds, twice earning Jack Adams nominations (2010, ’11) while winning over 500 games with a team often hamstrung by salary cap restraints and a lack of offensive talent.

That said, some pinned the lack of offense on Trotz, who implemented a low-risk, defensive-oriented style of play to keep his team competitive in the early years of expansion. That issue reared its head once again this year, as the Preds missed the playoffs for the second straight season while finishing 19th in goals per game.

Nashville did briefly shed that offensively-challenged label, though, most notably during the 2011-12 season. The club finished eighth in the NHL in goals, racked up 48 wins and won its second-ever playoff series against rivals Detroit. But the year ended with a whimper, as the Preds were bounced in five games in the second round while controversial forward Alex Radulov was temporarily suspended for breaking curfew during the series.

Trotz also achieved great success during the 2006-07 campaign, racking up a franchise-best 51 wins and 110 points - but, in a familiar theme, the year ended with playoff disappointment as the Preds lost in the opening round to San Jose.

It’s expected that Trotz will be a hot coaching candidate over the next few days. There are likely to be openings across the league as reports have surfaced about pending changes in Vancouver (John Tortorella), Carolina (Kirk Muller) and Toronto (Randy Carlyle).