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Nashville Predators: 4 Takeaways from Disappointing End to Season

By Chad Minton

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) after the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 22, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Nashville 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) after the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 22, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Nashville 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – APRIL 17: Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on April 17, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – APRIL 17: Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on April 17, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Laviolette’s seat is getting toasty for next season

This isn’t an overreaction on my part regarding Laviolette’s job security. The fact is this team is going in reverse despite having a roster full of players in their primes. The Predators should be trending up with their current roster of players. There is no excuse for the last two years, and yet teams seem to be figuring out Laviolette’s system for Nashville.

Laviolette now heads into next season needing to show that the Predators are still a force in the playoffs. Regular season accomplishments are nice, but not what this organization needs anymore. A trophy case that still lacks a Stanley Cup is what people focus on. Unfortunately this organization seems to be drifting farther away from that Stanley Cup since they came within two wins of it against Pittsburgh.

I’m not saying fire Laviolette at this juncture. What I am saying is now he’s going to be under a microscope for next season. His job security has always been safe here in Nashville, and this will be the first time when that’s not the case. If this team stumbles out of the gate over the first month or two, then things will get nasty quick.

Peter Laviolette's Nashville Legacy in Danger. dark. Next

Laviolette didn’t make it past five seasons with his last two teams, and he just coached his fifth season with Nashville. Plenty of regular season success and a Western Conference title is all well and good, but you can’t be going backwards at this juncture. He has to get this team firing on all cylinders out of the gate next season to feel confident in his long-term future as Nashville’s coach.

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