The Nashville Predators didn't live up to the hype last season when they had a huge spending spree, bringing in Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault. The team missed the playoffs, by a lot. This season hasn't gone any better for Nashville, as they sit dead-last in the Central Division with a 5-9-4 record and 14 points through 18 games.
As the record this season shows, things have not gone well for the Predators. Steven Stamkos' name is popping up in trade rumors. Ryan O'Reilly provided harsh assessment of his own play. Not to mention they gave the New York Rangers their first home win of the season this past Monday after losing 6-3 at Madison Square Garden.
During a live stream for Bleacher Report, NHL insider Frank Seravalli says one of the easiest options the Predators could have in turning the team around is to move on from head coach Andrew Brunette. Seravalli mentions that the team is in Sweden to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Global Series and that it could be the catalyst for a change.
The Predators are off to another rough start, and now head overseas for the Global Series.@frank_seravalli says the trip could be a catalyst for the Preds to make changes pic.twitter.com/xPlyQ08qo1
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 11, 2025
"I think the Preds, as they head oversees for the Global Series, really need significant changes. I think to start with, a coaching change stands out," said Seravalli. "They're on a 1-6-2 slide to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, neck-and-neck with the Calgary Flames. They don't seem to have much life in their game, or hope...The vibes are not high in Nashville, they're at an all-time low. It seems to be a toxic energy that's there, and they need to find a way to flush that one way or the other. Sometimes one of the easiest ways to do it on a team where it's going to be difficult for Barry Trotz to move some of those veteran contracts, that I think they have to just make a change. And yes, maybe even the Global Series is the best time to do it."
NHL insider suggests Predators move on from Andrew Brunette
The Predators will be in Sweden for two games on Nov. 14 and 16. From there, they don't play again until Nov. 22, where they take on the Colorado Avalanche. Seravalli mentions that the trip to Sweden could help the team, such as team bonding and having extra practices. But he does mention "a change in voice" could be "a shot in the arm."
Brunette has been with Nashville since 2023 where he replaced John Hynes. Brunette had limited head coaching experience, as he filled in for Joel Quennville during the 2021-22 season. Brunette led the Panthers to a 51-18-6 record, helping them win the Atlantic Division, but they were swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brunette was replaced by Paul Maurice.
The Predators and Trotz believed that Brunette could be an improvement behind the bench over Hynes. In his first season, Brunette coached the Predators to a 47-30-5 record, enough for them to clinch the playoffs, where they lost to the Vancouver Canucks. After the team's huge spending spree on Stamkos, Skjei, and Marchessault, the Predators nosedived down the standings, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 30-44-8 record.
This season has been no better for the Predators. If the team does move on from Brunette, Seravalli doesn't sound confident in the team's ability to turn things around. But in pro sports, maybe a change in voice behind the bench could do wonders for a team. Maybe that does happen in Nashville in the near future.