Nashville Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette just may be on one of the hottest coaching seats in the NHL entering next season.
President of Hockey Ops/General Manager Chris MacFarland told reporters in his first his plans heading into his first season with Nashville. One of the most urgent questions asked was by Chris Harris of WSMV, who asked what the outlook would be on coaching decisions. MacFarland responded with full confidence, telling Harris and others:
"I know Andrew Brunette a lot from scouting circles, I know he's a very good person. I'll chat with Bru and get a feel for things before looking at all that type of stuff."Nashville Predators Youtube
MacFarland has his experience with Brunette, being the former GM of division rival Colorado Avalanche. Before that, he rivaled with Brunette's Florida Panthers team for the President's Trophy in 2021-22, the same year the Avs won the Stanley Cup.
For Brunette, he's been on fans and analysts' hotseats for a good bit. Ever since the team missed the postseason in 2024-25, the idea of his firing has been in almost everyone's minds. Now under new management, things are more unsettling. New minds mean new team vision, and he may not fit it.
Luckily for him, he has a chance to redeem himself and make it known to both management, the team and its fans that he is the right coach. His coaching style is focused on making fast-paced plays and prioritizes long-term positional growth over sudden overhauls. His style isn't exactly the best for Nashville, but it also isn't the worst.
Looking at his preference for speed, it's a perfect fit for the younger group. Guys like Matthew Wood, Luke Evangelista and Ryan Ufko thrived under this system. On the other hand, it isn't ideal for the older guys like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O'Reilly. The team's greatest strength ended up being its Achilles' heel for most of the season.
His lineup patience helps build chemistry, as seen with Evangelista-O'Reilly and Wood-Filip Forsberg. However, his lineup resistance can also lead to more scoring slumps, as there is less chance for players to get new linemates to help them produce.
Brunette's time in Nashville may be lengthened, but if he doesn't begin showing some signs of improvement, MacFarland has the full right to flip the switch.
