Nashville Predators: Who Is Truly to Blame For Their Failures?
Head Coach John Hynes
Hynes inherited a Predators team that was in chaos. A strong start to last season and a spot near the top of the Central Division quickly turned into a question of whether they would even make the playoffs.
With limited time to implement changes, Hynes did the best he could and coaxed some big wins out of the Predators. Before the pandemic hit, the team was sitting in a good spot in the standings.
When the Stanley Cup Qualifiers came, Hynes had a concise window of opportunity to make the changes needed to move the Predators forward.
The Predators technically made the playoffs, but didn’t make the traditional 16-team field for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Hynes now finds himself on the hot seat with offseason personnel changes that haven’t panned out and a team that struggles to execute consistently. There was never much confidence in the hire from the start.
On the one hand, you have to look at the fact that Hynes has yet to have an entire training camp, and the constant stopping and starting of this crazy season also has to be taken into account.
On the other hand, it’s the coach’s job to motivate and coach this team, pull out the greatness that is on paper, and translate it to wins on the ice. And every head coach is dealing with the same challenges of this crazy season.
Hynes hasn’t helped his case with inexplicable line changes and by not playing some of the younger prospects. The team’s constant inconsistency and lack of intensity may also point to his inability to lead the locker room.
Hynes might have a mostly new team next season and a fresh start. If success continues to elude the team, his future employment past next season will be in question and with good reason.
The Players
There has been something inherently wrong with the Nashville Predators since the 2017 Stanley Cup run. The Predators have gotten worse every year since and have seen progressively earlier playoff exits.
During the 2019-20 season, the team was in shambles, and Poile pulled the trigger on a coaching change, but with the caveat that it was on the players to make the necessary changes to succeed.
While they did well for a time, the Predators are back to their old habits, but with far worse consequences. With the way they are playing now, this team will be virtually unrecognizable next season.
The upcoming trade deadline in April could bring forth a lot of changes and long-time players leaving.
Peter Laviolette may have lost command of the locker room before his exit, and Hynes may not have it now. Regardless, the responsibility is on the players to implement changes and execute the gameplan.
A recent “players only” meeting and visible frustration in after-game interviews show that the players are fed up with their lackadaisical play. They either can’t implement the adjustments or are not getting the proper coaching.
Fans have heard about “player slumps” for a couple of seasons now. Each year we’ve been hopeful that said players will play up to their potential and perform as they have in the past.
We have to come to grips because the time is up for this current core that’s been here for several seasons now. Regardless of how they perform the rest of the season, a rebuild is necessary to ensure future success.
General Manager David Poile
Finally, we get to the main culprit in this investigation. Poile is the main target drawing the ire of fans at the moment and could be riding off into the sunset once this season is over.
After the Stanley Cup final loss, Poile wanted to recapture that moment and keep the majority of the team together, and rightfully so. However, the question has to be asked if that 2017 team was actually that good or if they just got hot at the right time?
By keeping the core team together and making very few changes, Poile has created teams that have gotten worse since 2017. The offseason changes made before this season were the most the Predators had seen in quite a while.
The Predators are now burdened with a couple of heavy contracts that will be hard to move. They will also be losing a few good players who have value. The players that will be staying will be facing the consequences of what a rebuild will mean to their careers.
It has become apparent that Poile’s time in the front office should to come to an end. He should be allowed to retire at the end of this season and not be fired, regardless of how the Predators perform the rest of this season.
Everyone should have an appreciation for everything that Poile has accomplished. This team may not even still be in Nashville if it were not for Poile. Let’s give him the sendoff that he deserves and usher in a new era for the Nashville Predators.
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