Predators GM Barry Trotz May Be The One Guy Who Enjoyed The NHL's Playoff Bubble In 2020

It's weird to look back on the COVID-affected 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That was when the teams that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs (as well as teams that appeared in the "qualifying" round) spent weeks in bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, much like the NBA did in Disney World.

Of course, being stuck in a locked-down hotel for weeks doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but Barry Trotz — who was the New York Islanders head coach at the time — says that was his favorite memory of coaching the team.

Trotz is now the GM of the Nashville Predators who are playing on Long Island this weekend and ahead of the game he was asked to reminisce.

"When you end up in close quarters with those guys for a long period of time, some of the talents away from the rink, other than them being really good hockey players, you really admire," Trotz told The Hockey News.

Barry Trotz — now the Nashville Predators' general manager — was behind the New York Islanders bench during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

"No one knew that (Jean-Gabriel) Pageau was good at Ping-Pong. Guys knew that (Jordan) Eberle could play the guitar and (Cal) Clutterbuck and guys like that," Trotz said. "They found out that some of them were actually good singers as well and which guys had a sense of humor. 

"You found different things from players, and it was really good. We had some great personalities and great leadership."

That's a really cool answer. Of course, when I read this my initial thought was, "Well, I bet the Isles made a first-round exit that season," but I was wrong. I forgot that they went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final only to lose to the eventual Cup Champs, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That was the high-water mark during Trotz's time with the Isles before he returned to Nashville where he coached from 1999 to 2014.

Trotz's Predators are playing well at the moment and made a stunning run to a playoff spot through March. Don't be shocked if they go on a bit of a run.