Predators Honour Trotz With Golden Jacket Before Capitals Clash

The Nashville Predators honoured Barry Trotz before Thursday night's game against the Washington Capitals, inducting the franchise icon into the team's Golden Hall in a pre-game ceremony at Bridgestone Arena. The ceremony included the presentation of a golden jacket, an induction speech, two tribute videos and a ceremonial puck drop between Predators captain Roman Josi and Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. Trotz, who coached Nashville from its very first season in 1998 until 2014 and now serves as the club's general manager, is the defining figure in the franchise's history, having guided the Predators from expansion newcomers to perennial contenders and later winning the Stanley Cup as a coach elsewhere. The honour came as Nashville continued a five-game homestand, having earned points in its previous three games, while Washington arrived in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division after a 5-2 win over Philadelphia. The night was a reminder of how far the franchise has travelled since Trotz first stood behind its bench nearly three decades ago.