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As the Nashville Predators<\/a> continue their search for a new general manager, they may be getting some help from former Alabama football coach Nick Saban<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Saban has been assisting majority owner Bill Haslam during recent in-person interviews.<\/p>\n “I believe that in this round of in person (interviews), Nick Saban\u2019s played a pretty big role,” Friedman said during an April 17 episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast.” “I think he\u2019s asking questions, I think he\u2019s sizing up the candidates.”<\/p>\n A representative for the Predators<\/a> told The Tennessean on April 18 that they would not release any details on their GM search, including potential candidates or where they are in the process.<\/p>\n Saban became minority owner of the Predators<\/a> in December, purchasing a stake in the team alongside business partner Joe Agresti through Dream Sports Ventures LLC. After retiring as coach of Alabama in 2024, Saban became part of the ESPN “College GameDay” crew before showing interest in sports ownership. He also was a part of Haslam’s bid in 2025 to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to Nashville.<\/p>\n When current Predators GM Barry Trotz announced his retirement on Feb. 2, Haslam initially hired CAA to help guide the search. That didn’t last long \u2014 CAA withdrew from the search a week later<\/a>, citing a potential conflict of interest \u2014 but Haslam also mentioned on Feb. 2 that the team’s search process would involve several internal voices, including Saban’s.<\/p>\n Haslam also said he wants to make the hire in time for the NHL draft in June, but ideally by sometime in May.<\/p>\n