Following practice today, Andrew Brunette expressed thoughts on coaching situation
By Anthony Pellegrino @Pellegrinoap50 IceInsider.com Predators All Access Reporter
NASHVILLE--It's no secret that the Predators at 7-15-6, with a roster built to compete for a deep playoff run, (that now ranks second to last in the NHL) behind just the Chicago Blackhawks, are having internal discussions about where the team goes from here.
For Head Coach Andrew Brunette, that could mean his job security.
The leauge itself, isn't necessarily what it used to be for coaches; when it comes to security.
Current GM Barry Trotz, became the first Head Coach in Predators history from the inaugural season in 1998, all the way to 2014. He was behind the bench for 1,196 regular season games and 50 playoff games.
One coach, sixteen years.
Since then, Nashville has hired Peter Laviolette, who led the team to the Presidents Trophy in 2018. On January 6th, 2020, the Predators fired the bench boss and a day later, hiring John Hynes.
He made it half the way that Laviolette did, being fired after just three seasons. Now it's Brunette. There's no secret he knows the coaching carousel that has taken place since Trotz's departure from Nashville as a coach.
Following practice today, Brunette was asked about his coaching security. He gave a very honest answer, with what looked like a disappointed look on his face:
"I don't spend a whole lot of time (on it), just worry about the present. I'm worried about doing the best job I can do. I'm worried about helping this team." Brunette said on security...
"In my business, we're terminal. It's just like all of us in life, we're not overly concerned about it. When it happens, it happens. In saying that, it is what it is, (I'm looking forward) to tomorrow's game. I think something's bound to break, hopefully it breaks tomorrow."
Nashville welcomes in a 13-10-5 Calgary Flames group tomorrow night following a three-game Canadian road trip where the Predators scored just a mere three goals in the three games including a third period collapse to Toronto, shut out against Montreal, and faced the Senators losing 3-1.
In the game against Ottawa, Fedor Svechkov scored his second career goal with two minutes remaining to help the team avoid being shut out consecutively, on a bar-down shot that beat Linus Ullmark's glove side.
"We'll break free at some point," Brunette said postgame in Ottawa..."We have to just try and win the next game."
There's no doubt it's in the back of his mind. It's the modern-day NHL.
Chicago, in a similar situation, although pursuing a full-on rebuild, has been in a similar coaching carousel to the Predators. Joel Quenneville coached the team from 2008-2018. The comparable "Barry Trotz" of Chicago (by timeline), led the team to three Stanley Cups.
Since firing Quenneville, Chicago has seen four coaches in seven seasons. Last week, GM Kyle Davidson explained why the team fired former Head Coach Luke Richardson:
"I don't believe this is a last-place team." He said.
Nashville, just two points ahead of Chicago for 2nd to last place in the standings, wasn't necessarily targeting a rebuild heading into this season.
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