The Nashville Predators may have made the biggest front office splash of the offseason. With Barry Trotz stepping down as general manager, the Predators hired former Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland, while also giving him the title of president of hockey operations. Considering how great of a team that the Avalanche built, it's hard not to be excited if you are a Nashville fan.
Entering this offseason, the Predators had a decision to make when it came to the coaching staff, led by head coach Andrew Brunette. Earlier this month, MacFarland said he would meet with Brunette and figure out if their goals for the team and timelines would be similar before making a decision. It appears that decision has arrived.
During an appearance on NHL Network Radio, MacFarland revealed that he was keeping Brunette on as head coach for the upcoming season. Additionally, assistant coaches Luke Richardson, Derek MacKenzie, and Darby Hendrickson would be retained as well.
Chris MacFarland reveals Andrew Brunette will return as Predators head coach for 2026-27 season
"I talked to Andrew Brunette yesterday for a long time," MacFarland said, h/t Alex Daugherty of the Nashville Tennessean. "I'm looking forward to getting to know him next week and in development camp and moving forward."
Brunette must have said the right things in order for MacFarland to give him another shot at being the head coach. He was with the team since 2023-24 seson, where he led Nashville to the playoffs immediately. Yet, the team was eliminated in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks. During the 2024-25 season, the Predators failed to make the playoffs after going 30-44-8.
The start of this past season was rough, as the team's slow start resulted in Trotz calling out the players on the team for not producing, while backing Brunette. Nashville did turn their season around, as they were firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for them, they missed out on a Wild Card spot by just four points. That is a turnaround, considering they were near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Nashville finished the season with a 38-34-10 record.
It will be interesting to see what MacFarland does with the current roster. While star players such as Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly expressed desire to remain with the team during their playoff push, does MacFarland begin rebuilding the roster in his image? Or will he add to the roster that is currently constructed?
Brunette is getting another chance at leading the Predators back into a Stanley Cup contender. If Nashville struggles next season, one has to wonder if MacFarland will opt to bring in a coach of his choosing.
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