• Andrew Brunette will return as head coach of the Nashville Predators for the 2025-26 season, confirmed by General Manager Barry Trotz.
• The decision comes after a disappointing 2024-25 season where the Predators finished with a 30-44-8 record, missing the playoffs despite offseason acquisitions.
• Trotz emphasizes the need for adjustments and improved player 'buy-in' to the team's system, indicating potential changes in the team's approach.

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz has confirmed that Andrew Brunette will continue as the team's head coach for the 2025-26 NHL season. This decision comes in the wake of a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, where the Predators failed to make the playoffs despite notable offseason signings. Trotz's commitment to Brunette underscores a long-term vision, even as the team acknowledges the need for adjustments and improved player commitment to the team's system. The decision has sparked discussion about the team's direction and future performance.

• What: Andrew Brunette will remain the head coach of the Nashville Predators for the 2025-26 season, despite the team's poor performance in the 2024-25 season.
• Who: Key individuals involved are Andrew Brunette (Head Coach) and Barry Trotz (General Manager). Key players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei are also mentioned.
• When: The decision was announced on May 5, 2025, following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season. Brunette was hired in May 2023.
• Where: The events occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, the location of the Nashville Predators' home arena.

The decision to retain Andrew Brunette as head coach signifies a commitment to a long-term plan despite short-term setbacks. Trotz's emphasis on player 'buy-in' suggests a need for greater commitment and adherence to the team's system. The Predators' disappointing offensive performance, despite significant offseason acquisitions, raises questions about the effectiveness of the team's current strategy and the need for adjustments. Brunette's prior success with the Florida Panthers likely factors into Trotz's decision, indicating a belief in Brunette's potential to replicate that success in Nashville.

"Andrew Brunette, to me, is a good young coach. That's why I hired him. He's a good young coach. Had a tough situation this year in terms of our team, maybe our makeup, how we came together or didn't come together."

"(Brunette) is going to be our head coach, and he will make some adjustments, I'm sure, in terms of how we play,"

"It's not a dictatorship. You're in a partnership. The partnership is every coach has to make every player better, but the player has a responsibility to make himself better as well, with the advice that he's gotten and grow his game within the framework of our game."

"We're going to put our best foot forward and try to make the playoffs,"

Andrew Brunette will remain as the head coach of the Nashville Predators for the 2025-26 season, a decision rooted in General Manager Barry Trotz's belief in Brunette's coaching abilities and a commitment to a long-term vision. Trotz has acknowledged the need for adjustments, and has stressed improved player 'buy-in' to the team's system. While the Predators aim to return to playoff contention, the upcoming season will be crucial in determining whether Brunette can lead the team to success.