NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steve Parker has never met Barry Trotz. But as he drove his taxi toward Bridgestone Arena on Saturday morning, the 65-year-old Tennessean spoke so glowingly and with such a familiarity about all Trotz accomplished on and off the ice during his 15 seasons as the Predators’ first coach, it seemed the two were lifelong friends.
In fact, Parker said he was so incensed when Nashville finally fired Trotz on April 14, 2014, he questioned whether he would continue rooting for the Predators and attending the handful of games he could afford each season.
Parker still roots for the Predators, still goes to some games.