Comparing him to a good young hockey player who needs to grow and develop, Predators General Manager Barry Trotz said Monday that Andrew Brunette will return as the team’s head coach next season.

Trotz said Brunette’s assistants — Darby Hendrickson, Derek MacKenzie and Todd Richards — are likely to return as well.

Trotz’s announcement came weeks after the Preds (30-44-8) completed a disastrous 2024-25 season, finishing with just 68 points, the second fewest in franchise history.

Nashville finished 28 points out of the playoffs, registering the third fewest wins and points in the NHL.

It was a stunning turnaround from 2023-24, when Brunette, in his first season, guided an overachieving Predators team into the playoffs and finished second in the NHL in coach of the year voting.

“If you’ve got a good coach and you believe in your coach, then stand behind your coach,” Trotz said. “So we’re standing behind Andrew.

“Andrew Brunette is just like a young player. We could have done the easy thing, make a [coaching] change and see if we can get a bump up [in the standings] or whatever. I didn’t do that. I believe in developing people. I believe he’s a good young coach, a good young hockey mind.”

What gives Trotz confidence to say that, considering the struggles the team endured after adding three high-priced free agents — Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei — at a cost of $108.5 million during the offseason?

The Preds finished 31st in goals per game (2.59) in 2024-25 and 27th in goals allowed per contest (3.34).

“He has the experience at every level,” Trotz said of Brunette. “He’s played at every level. He’s been part of management. He’s been an assistant coach. He’s been a head coach.

“He’s a good coach because he knows the game really well … He’s a good communicator. I think he’s a guy who [players] love to play for. If you go talk to our guys, they’ll say they love `Bruno.’ Okay, you love him, but we didn’t win. So, you gotta’ love him more.”

Just as one might expect a good, young player to develop, Trotz expects the same of Brunette, 51, moving forward.

The GM compared Brunette to himself decades ago, when Trotz was in his first few years coaching the Predators. Trotz didn’t lead the expansion-era Preds to a winning record in his first five seasons, but he would go on to produce 914 wins, capturing the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018.

“He needs to add a lot of tools to his toolbelt,” Trotz said. “I think I was Andrew Brunette way back when, in terms of I thought I had a lot of tools in my toolbelt, and you find out you have to add a couple more. I think he did add some during the year.”

What tools must Brunette add?

Trotz identified one as holding all players on the roster accountable, no matter their level of experience or star power.

“It doesn’t matter in terms of a player who’s played 600 games or a player who’s played six. There should be an accountability factor,” Trotz said. “Obviously guys who have had long NHL careers or been in the league for a long time have a longer rope. But in terms of the respect for all those guys, that has to be the same. I know that’s key with Andrew.”

Another key is making sure the whole team buys in, playing with the same philosophy and commitment.

“Making sure we’re all playing the right way all the time, and I didn’t think we did enough of it,” Trotz said. “That’s an area where, like I say, sometimes we’re all too nice. I can be a nice guy, but I also know when I don’t have to be a nice guy.”

Trotz wants to see a Predators team that’s better at even strength next season, as well as a squad that is more defensively sound.

He believes Brunette will do what it takes to turn Nashville’s fortunes around in 2025-26.

“Andrew is going to work hard to find a solution,” Trotz said. “He’s a solution-based guy as well as myself. We’ll find that solution.

“There will be changes. They will make those adjustments. That’s what a good young hockey mind does, and Andrew will do that.”