Sportscasting | Pure Sports
Home / NHL / NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz Backs Andrew Brunette

NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz Backs Andrew Brunette

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. Ads on our site are served by Google AdSense and are not controlled or influenced by our editorial team.
NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz Backs Andrew Brunette

Fifteen seconds after the opening faceoff of Saturday night’s NHL matchup at Bridgestone Arena, Colorado Avalanche defenseman received a pass from the right corner and beat Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros.

For a road-weary squad that had dropped six of seven and was shut out during their previous outing, the dubious opening did not signal much to coach Andrew Brunette.

The Predators (6-11-4) returned to North America after two Global Series games last week. Their struggles followed them home with a 3-0 defeat.

Is Brunette’s job on the line after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign?

Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz Not Interested In Coaching

Predators general manager Barry Trotz, a seasoned coach, told USA Today that Brunette and the staff are “coaching their butts off.” He told The Tennessean there was “not a chance. A 0.0 percent chance” that he would fire Brunette and assume the role behind the bench.

“I don’t want to do that,” said Trotz, who coached the expansion Predators for 15 of his 23-year coaching career. “I don’t want to do that because I made the decision to do what I’m doing.

“Like a player, I am surrounded by good people. I’ve got good advisors. But I’m still young at this. I don’t have 40 years of being a general manager.”

When he assumed the GM role in 2023, Trotz, a two-time Jack Adams Award winner, presented annually to the NHL’s top coach, said he was ready to leave coaching behind.

For now, it appears Brunette will be presented more time to turn the Predators’ season around.

“If I’m behind the bench at any time, it would be for a game just because we didn’t have someone that day,” he said.

Trotz believes Burnette will help players like Jonathan Marchessault rediscover their games. Marchessault remains pointless in eight games and goalless since Nov. 1.

The Predators entered Sunday with the league’s No. 31-ranked offense, averaging 2.4 goals per game.

“It’s disappointing as a group, but especially for me individually,” Marchessault said. “We played a great game, but again we find a way to not win a hockey game.”

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
All posts by Jeff Hawkins
Other News