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Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette leads odds among NHL coaches in a highly dubious category this season.
The Nashville Predators’ underwhelming season has been the subject of plenty of scrutiny. Unfortunately, much of the finger-pointing has centered on head coach Andrew Brunette. Despite GM Barry Trotz’s defense of Brunette, rumors have not quelled. If anything, they’ picked up over the last couple of weeks.
One set of rumors has focused on potential player trades. But the biggest one has been a change behind the bench. Again, despite claims otherwise, the market seems to be pricing in a coaching change in Nashville.
That’s the sentiment that Jim Tomlin conveyed in a December 4 piece on Bookies.com. The site released a list of odds regarding the next coaching change in the NHL. And the Predators’ bench boss leads the pack with +110 odds. That turns out to be a 47.6% chance of seeing Brunette get the heave-ho.
Looking at the Predators’ record this season, it’s easy to see why. The Preds are 31st in the league, tied with the Calgary Flames with 22 points. However, Nashville is a step above the Flames as they have two fewer regulation losses.
Also, the Predators have a woeful -24 goal differential, and are riding a 4-6-0 mark in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, MoneyPuck has given Nashville the worst playoff odds this season, listing them at a pitiful 6.1% shot of making the postseason. That’s still lower than the Flames, who are at 6.5%.
But as the saying goes, “misery loves company.” Brunette is not the only coach sitting on the hot seat at the moment.
Predators’ Brunette Not Only Coach Sitting on Hot Seat
The odds show Ryan Huska of the Flames second on the list at +175 odds of getting the pink slip. Those odds work out to a 36.4% chance of dismissal. Huska and the Flames have been off to an awful start this season after coming painfully close to a playoff spot last season.
Third on the list is Buffalo Sabres’ coach Lindy Ruff. The veteran coach has seen his team turn things around recently. However, that upswing has not diminished the odds of his firing. Ruff gets +600 odds, a 14.3% chance of seeing the door.
Rounding out the top five are the Vancouver Canucks’ first-year coach Adam Foote, Toronto Maple Leafs‘ bench boss Craig Berube, and St. Louis Blues’ mastermind Jim Montgomery. All of these coaches have less than a 10% chance of getting the heave-ho.
Nashville Looking at Trades Not Coaching Change
The Predators’ management group has been adamant about focusing on player changes, not coaching ones. Trotz called out in his in an expletive-filled post in The Tennessean, pointing the blame at the team, not the coaches.
Barry Trotz is pissed at his players.
“I need more f***ing from them. I need more.”
In a wide-ranging interview with the Tennessean, he explains why and also why he’s keeping Brunette.
The move was bold and aimed at lighting a fire under his club. The strategy has seemed to yield some results, though a miraculous turnaround does not seem in order. Virtually the entire league is scouting the Predators, looking for players that could offer value to their respective clubs.
It remains unclear where a shakeup could come for the Predators. But it could be that the club has no other choice but to let Brunette’s head be the first one to roll this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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