The 2023-24 season will be Jack Burk’s 16th with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. Burk is the current Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, overseeing all partnerships sales and service initiatives for the Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena and Ford Ice Center Antioch and Bellevue. Burk is a member of the Nashville Predators Foundation empowered by SmileDirectClub Board of Directors.

Burk is most proud of and grateful for all of SMASHVILLE, the Loyal Legion and 7th Man for creating an amazingly unique bond with the Preds. Without their support, we would not have been recognized as Arena of the Year by Pollstar magazine, IEBA, CMA and ACM. Our fan support solidified our spot as a Top Workplace by the Tennessean for 11 consecutive years, a two-time winner of the Front Office Sports Best Employers in Sports Award and ESPN’s No. 1 Franchise in Sports, and without their tireless dedication to this franchise and passion for all we aim to achieve, we would not be the organization we are today. Burk is proud to serve these incredible fans alongside our core leadership group to continue reaching our organization’s ONEGOAL.

Burk attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where he earned a liberal arts degree in English literature. Upon graduation, Burk began his career as an executive recruiter for Chicago-based executive search firm, Reilly Partners. After going on to perform executive search work for the NHLPA, Burk made a career transition into the sports and entertainment industry. Burk started with the Nashville Predators in the ticket sales department in 2008 and moved into the corporate partnerships department two years later. Following a series of progressively responsible corporate partnerships roles, Burk was promoted to his current role of Vice President in March 2020.

Burk is a proud resident of Nashville, where he lives with his wife, Lindsay, and their two beautiful children, Brody and Blake.

The 2023-24 season will be Dionna Widder’s first with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. In her role as Chief Revenue Officer, Widder is responsible for ticket sales and service; premium seating; suite sales and service; partnership sales and service; data analytics; and business intelligence.

Previously, Widder served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash for four seasons. Widder was responsible for leading the revenue-generation strategy and execution for the Club, including overseeing the corporate partnership sales and marketing, ticket sales and service, and business intelligence and analytics teams.

As a results-driven leader, Dionna turned the club’s seven-year consecutive decline in season ticket sales around in her first year and was honored by the Sports Business Journal as a member of the Game Changers Class of 2020. Widder led a 24 percent increase in partnership revenue over her tenure, and inked global brand, Shell Energy, as the Club’s new stadium naming rights partner announced in January 2023.

Widder is grateful and excited to join the Preds family and for the opportunity to work with amazing team members, fans, partners and community leaders as we to continue to build a world-class franchise and create extraordinary experiences that only SMASHVILLE can deliver.

Before making her move to Houston, Dionna was the Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under Widder’s leadership, the Cavs recorded more than 250 home consecutive sellouts at the 20,562-seat Quicken Loans Arena. Among the keys to the Cavs’ strong sales results were a switch to an innovative year-round membership model and a strong focus on personalizing the organization’s interactions with its members. The Cavaliers received the NBA’s Membership Platform of the Year after the 2017-18 season, and Widder was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business 40-Under-40 in 2017.

Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Widder spent two years as a Director in the NBA’s Team Marketing and Business Operations group, providing league support to individual teams with a focus on ticket sales, corporate partnerships and marketing functions to NBA, WNBA, and G-League teams.

Widder broke into professional sports in 2006 upon graduating from Central Michigan University, as a first-generation graduate, with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever. She advanced rapidly within the club, starting out as a group sales executive before being named the Director of Group Ticket Sales and ultimately Sr. Director of Ticket Sales.

Widder is a native of Flint, Mich., and now resides in Gallatin, Tenn., with her husband, Mark, and their three children.

The 2023-24 season will be Robin Lee’s 10th with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. Prior to joining the National Hockey League, Lee spent time working in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Women’s National Basketball Association. Lee currently oversees the Corporate Partnerships Service and Activation team which manages execution and fulfilment for each of the Predators corporate partnerships.

Since joining the Nashville Predators, Lee has served on the Employee Advisory Board for six years, including three years as President. The Employee Advisory Board, selected by the Preds Executive team, is a vital component of the Preds organization, creating a fun and inclusive workplace for employees. Lee also serves as one of four founders for the Preds DEI board, GUIDER (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, and Representation). Since its launch in the summer of 2020, the Preds GUIDER platform has utilized Preds resources and relationships to build diversity within the Preds front office, create opportunities within youth sports, recognize minority-owned businesses and organizations, and further Bridgestone Arena’s goal towards creating a welcoming environment for patrons of all backgrounds. Lee was also named in Nashville Business Journal’s 2023 40 Under 40 list for her leadership and contributions to the community.

Lee is most proud of and grateful for all of SMASHVILLE, the Loyal Legion and 7th Man for creating an amazingly unique bond with the Preds. Without their support, we would not have been recognized as Arena of the Year by Pollstar magazine, IEBA, CMA and ACM. Our fan support solidified our spot as a Top Workplace by the Tennessean for 11 consecutive years, a two-time winner of the Front Office Sports Best Employers in Sports Award and ESPN’s No. 1 Franchise in Sports, and without their tireless dedication to this franchise and passion for all we aim to achieve, we would not be the organization we are today. Lee is proud to serve these incredible fans alongside our core leadership group to continue reaching our organization’s ONEGOAL.

Lee is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and enjoys spending time with her family of 10.

Kimberly B. Davis currently serves as Senior Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League, the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. In this capacity, Kim leads a role reporting to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to attract, develop and retain fans – with a specific focus on multi-cultural audiences – through culture, youth participation, and social impact initiatives. Ms. Davis has been recognized as #1 on Sportsnet’s list of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Sports, as well as honored by Sports Illustrated in “The Unrelenting” Most Powerful Women in Sports and “100 Influential Black Women in Sports.” In addition, Ms. Davis has been recognized by Hockey News’ 2020-2023 “Top 100” Most Influential Leaders in the Sport, Essence Magazine’s “Woke” 2019 Change Agents, Adweek’s “30 Most Powerful Women in Sports,” and Sports Business Journal’s “GameChangers.” She has also been featured in Savoy Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” and Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business.” In 2012, Ms. Davis was profiled with First Lady Michelle Obama in Essence Magazine’s “28 Most Influential Black Women in America.”

Chandra Vasser is vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer, Nissan Americas. She was appointed to this position in November 2021. In this role, Vasser is responsible for leading efforts to develop a culture where all employees can be productive, respected and feel safe in their work environments. Vasser drives Nissan's diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, while developing partnerships and plans to share the company's DEI commitment with employees, customers and the community.

Vasser is also President of the Nissan Foundation, which annually awards grants to nonprofit organizations in support of innovative programming that breaks down societal barriers and builds inclusive communities.

Vasser began her career with Nissan in 2004 and has since served in a wide range of leadership roles. Most recently, she was director of Finance, overseeing activities in the marketing & sales, aftersales, sales audit and cost of quality areas. Prior to that, Vasser served in multiple director of finance roles, leading activities for NMAC, remarketing and purchasing. She was also director of purchasing, services & support and administration which included leadership of supplier diversity.

Externally Chandra serves as a board member of the Urban League of Middle TN and the United Way of Greater Nashville. She is also a member of Leadership Nashville class of 2024.

A certified public accountant, Vasser holds a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Tennessee State University and a master's in business administration from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. Chandra also completed the Fusion Leadership Development Circuit for Women and McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program.

Sara Correa is Chief Marketing Officer for Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone West. In this role, Sara leads the company's Marketing Center of Excellence, driving enhanced coordination and marketing activation for the company's tire and solutions businesses in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She oversees all brand and digital marketing efforts for the Bridgestone and Firestone brands; the company's sports and engagement platforms; corporate communications; research and insights; and the company's training initiatives.

Before joining Bridgestone Americas in 2021, Sara served as Segment CMO, Transportation Solutions at TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL), a publicly traded company and global leader in connectors and sensors for the transportation, medical technology, energy, and data communications sectors. In this role, Sara led marketing activities for four transportation-related businesses and evolved the marketing strategy to drive scale and alignment to support customer experience and growth across all segments for one of the world's largest suppliers of connectivity and sensor solutions to the automotive and commercial vehicle marketplaces.

Prior to TE Connectivity, Sara functioned in marketing roles encompassing a broad scope of responsibilities including domestic and global marketing, marketing strategy, organizational development, transformational leadership, and project management. She previously worked for Thomson Reuters, Robson Forensic and the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology. She is a graduate of The Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Jessi leads the Sponsorship Consulting and Valuation team at Playfly Sports. He brings nearly 15 years of Valuation experience and has advised and valued rights at virtually every level of sports, including organizations in all 5 Major US Sports Leagues, UEFA, EPL, and Collegiate sports. He has also created and supported major sponsorship programs for various categories and prestigious brands.

A recent recipient of Sports Business Journal's New Voices Under 30 Award, Melanie is the lead strategist across Playfly's property consulting engagements, with experience in global events, sports, entertainment and mixed-use facilities. She has deep experience with insights, valuation, and strategic recommendations in the closing of marquee sponsorship deal (Naming Rights, Front of Kits, & Top-Tier Partnerships). Prior to joining Playfly, she managed consulting projects for Fortune 500 companies at Accenture.

Lee Blank serves as Market Executive for Middle TN leading the efforts of 1100 Regions associates in 81 branch locations. In addition, he is directly responsible for the Private Wealth teams in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC.

He joined the company in 1983 as a Management Trainee. He has held various leadership positions in Commercial, Consumer and Private Wealth over his 36-year career with the bank.

Blank is a native of Columbia, TN and holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, and he is a graduate of the Tennessee School of Banking.

He currently serves on the boards of The Nashville Downtown Partnership, the Regions Foundation of Tennessee (current board chair), United Way Board of Directors, 2022 Campaign Chair and Executive Committee, The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, current Chair of Partnership 2030, and The Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity Advisory Board. Blank is a member of the Downtown Rotary. He previously served on the boards of Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, The Tennessee Repertory Theater, and Buddies of Nashville (now Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Middle TN). Blank is an alumnus of Leadership Nashville and Young Leaders Council.

Scott Hunt serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Hunt Brothers Pizza, LLC, and oversees a portfolio of companies under the Hunt Brothers Pizza umbrella. He is carrying forward a legacy of family, pizza, and service that was the vision of the founding four brothers from Indiana. Established in 1991, Hunt Brothers Pizza has evolved into the nation’s largest made-to-order pizza brand in the convenience store industry. The company’s foundation rests on a commitment to service – service to the team members they employ, the stores and vendors they partner with, and the communities they serve.

Hunt Brothers Pizza supports more than 9500 store partners across the country. They proudly support over 100 locations on military bases worldwide, offering a taste of home to those in service. After growing up around the pizza business, Scott’s career path took him into the financial services industry for 17 years where he learned to develop strategies for families and business owners. Life has its own way of redirecting paths, and for Scott, a pivotal moment came when he was struck by a car while training for the Chicago Marathon. This life-altering event prompted a profound refocus on his priorities, emphasizing the importance of family.

In 2001, Scott made the decision to leave his successful career to join the family business. By 2009, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. During his time, Hunt Brothers Pizza has evolved from a successful pizza program for convenience stores to a nationally recognized brand. The legacy of the Hunt brothers lives on, and under Scott’s stewardship, the brand continues to grow and be a blessing to people. Any success we have enjoyed, is because of the amazing men and women that represent the family and brand.

Jessi leads the Sponsorship Consulting and Valuation team at Playfly Sports. He brings nearly 15 years of Valuation experience and has advised and valued rights at virtually every level of sports, including organizations in all 5 Major US Sports Leagues, UEFA, EPL, and Collegiate sports. He has also created and supported major sponsorship programs for various categories and prestigious brands.

Molly Wurdack-Folt is currently the Director of Team & League Partnerships at BetMGM. She joined the organization in January of 2023. In her role, Molly leads the brands sports portfolio of over 30 partnerships, business development, and special events.

Prior to joining BetMGM, Wurdack spent the previous 16 years on the team side of the business. Most recently as the Vice President of Partnership Activation for Ilitch Sports & Entertainment. Here she was responsible for leading the Corporate Partnerships’ activation group across the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Entertainment arms of the business, ensuring world-class experiences for partners through exceptional service, cutting-edge activation plans and flawless execution. She drove renewal sales efforts and developed cross-venue, multi-platform deals that leverage the sports & entertainment group’s unparalleled portfolio of properties.

In advance of leading Partnership Activation, she led several other areas within Ilitch Sports & Entertainment, including Ticket Service and Retention, Community Impact, Guest Experience, and Heritage. Wurdack implemented and grew the first ever Ticket Service and Retention department for the Detroit Red Wings focused on growing ticket retention and increasing season ticket holder satisfaction. She also developed the organizations Guest Connect Program focusing on guest experiences at Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and three outdoor amphitheaters. Prior to joining the Red Wings, Wurdack served as a Marketing Partnership Assistant for the Miami Dolphins where she aided in the execution and fulfillment of marketing partnership contracts.

Wurdack earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology and a minor in business from Ohio University and went on to earn her Master’s degree in sports and business administration from Ohio University as well. Wurdack currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, MI, with her husband, Jason, son, Beckett and daughter, Arden.

The 2023-24 season will be Willy Daunic’s 11th season with the Nashville Predators and ninth as the television play-by-play announcer for game broadcasts on Bally Sports South. Prior to his current role, Daunic spent two seasons as radio play-by-play announcer from 2013-15 and was the host of the team’s pregame, intermission and postgame coverage on the radio for 13 seasons beginning with Nashville’s inaugural campaign in 1998-99.

In addition to his work with the Predators, he has been hosting sports talk radio shows in Nashville since 1993 and joined the team’s flagship station – 102.5 The Game – when it became an all-sports format in 2011. He currently serves as a co-host of “Caroline, Willy and D-Mase” from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on 102.5 The Game.

Daunic has performed a wide variety of play-by-play and color duties on both radio and television in Nashville, including Vanderbilt University football, baseball and basketball; Belmont University basketball; Nashville Sounds baseball; Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) football, baseball and basketball state championship games and more. In 2022, Daunic shared the National Sports Media Association’s Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year award with Pete Weber, the “Voice of the Predators.”

A 1993 graduate of Vanderbilt University, Daunic lettered in two sports for the Commodores. Attending on a basketball scholarship, he played on the Commodores’ 1990 NIT championship team and 1991 team that reached the NCAA Tournament. He also played four years of baseball at VU and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round of the 1993 MLB Draft, spending two seasons in their minor league system.

Daunic and his wife, Erin, reside in Nashville and have two children – daughter Evans (21) and son Mahoney (17). Evans is in her third year at Northeastern University and Mahoney is a senior at the University School of Nashville.

Barry Trotz, the Nashville Predators’ first-ever and winningest head coach, returned to SMASHVILLE as the franchise’s second general manager on July 1, 2023.

Trotz assumed the GM position following an illustrious NHL head coaching career that spanned 23 seasons and 1,812 games, the second-most in League history. His 914 wins are the third-most among head coaches in the NHL’s record books, with 557 of them coming with the Predators during his 15 seasons with the team from 1998-14. Trotz won a Stanley Cup in his fourth and final season as Washington Capitals head coach in 2017-18 and spent an additional four years in the same role with the New York Islanders, taking them to the Eastern Conference Final in back-to-back seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He is a two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the League’s top coach, claiming his first 2015-16 with the Capitals and the second in 2018-19 with the Islanders; Trotz remains one of seven head coaches in NHL history to win the award multiple times.

The longest tenured coach in Predators history, Trotz was hired by David Poile on Aug. 6, 1997, and achieved a 557-479-(60)-100 record in 1,196 games as the team’s bench boss, guiding Nashville to the postseason seven times. His time with the Predators was historic – he coached the second-most games with one franchise in NHL history, and his 557 wins with Nashville are the third-most by a head coach with a single organization in League lore.

He gained notoriety for being a foundational piece of an organization that holds a reputation as being one of the NHL’s most consistent, thanks in part to his ability to guide the Predators during their initial seasons as an expansion franchise. He is one of just six coaches in the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB to have managed each of a team’s first 15 seasons of existence, and at the conclusion of his final campaign as Nashville’s head coach, was one of four in expansion-team history to have a record better than .500.

Trotz led the franchise to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2003-04, beginning an eight-year stretch in which the team qualified for the postseason on seven occasions. During this period, the Predators established themselves as one of the League’s premier franchises, reaching the 100-point mark four times, including a 110-point season in 2006-07, until 2017-18 the most in team history. Trotz was behind the bench for Nashville’s first-ever postseason series win – the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Anaheim – and followed it up by triumphing in another series the next season, taking down Detroit in the first round. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in back-to-back seasons during this stretch, earning the nod in 2009-10 after leading Nashville to a 100-point season while having the NHL’s 28th-highest payroll, and in 2010-11 when he guided his team to the playoffs despite losing 348 man-games due to injury.

Trotz also raked in the individual accolades following the 2006-07 campaign after guiding the Predators to the second-most points in the Western Conference and tied for the third-most points in the entire NHL, notching then-franchise records in points (110), wins (51), road wins (23) and goals (272) in the process. He was named 2007 Coach of the Year by The Sporting News, an honor determined through a vote of his peers, in addition to finishing fourth in Jack Adams voting and serving as an assistant coach for the Western Conference All-Stars at the 2007 NHL All-Star Game.

The 61-year-old Dauphin, Man., native reached his goal of becoming an NHL head coach when he was hired by Poile in August 1997. After a year aggressively scouting talent in North America and Europe, Trotz and his staff made the most of their opportunity by leading the inaugural edition (1998-99) of the Predators to a 28-47-7 record. Starting with a 3-2 victory over Carolina on Oct. 13, 1998, the Predators’ 28 wins were, at the time, the third-most in expansion history.

Following the 2013-14 season, his last with the Predators, Trotz took over as head coach of the Capitals, where he found instant success, leading them to a 101-point season in 2014-15 and a Presidents’ Trophy-winning 120-point campaign the next en route to winning his first Jack Adams Award. Just two seasons later, Trotz reached the pinnacle of the sport, guiding Washington to the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup title in a 4-2 series win over Vegas. He would take over as Islanders head coach the following season, where he again earned the Jack Adams Award after leading New York to a 48-27-7 record and a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After his final campaign with the Islanders in 2021-22, Trotz held a career record of 914-670-(60)-168 and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 14 of his 23 seasons.

Prior to joining the Predators, Trotz spent five seasons (1992-97) as the head coach of the Capitals' primary developmental affiliate in the American Hockey League. He was named head coach of the Baltimore Skipjacks in 1992 after one season as an assistant coach. Following the franchise’s relocation to Portland, Maine in 1993, he led the Portland Pirates to two Calder Cup Finals appearances over the next four seasons. In 1994-95, Trotz coached Portland to a Calder Cup Championship and a league-best 43-27-10 record and captured AHL Coach of the Year honors. In 2006, he was honored with election to the Pirates’ Hall of Fame.

Trotz has also gained experience coaching on the international stage, serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship on four occasions, most recently at the 2013 tournament in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland. In 2003, he helped the Canadians strike gold in Finland, and in 2009 he helped guide Canada to a silver medal in Switzerland. The first time he answered the call for his nation came at the 2002 Championship in Sweden. He also helped Canada win the championship at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey while serving as an assistant.

Trotz began his coaching career in 1984 as an assistant with the University of Manitoba. He then served two seasons (1985-87) as the head coach and general manager of the Dauphin Kings junior hockey club before returning to the University of Manitoba as the head coach in 1987. In January 2001, Trotz was inducted into the University's Hall of Fame. During the 1987 campaign, Trotz also served as a scout for the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) and a part-time scout for the Capitals. In 1988, he joined Washington as a full-time western scout, and the next season he became the Caps' chief western scout.

Before coaching, Trotz played junior hockey for Regina (WHL) from 1979-83, capturing a WHL championship in 1979-80. The defenseman registered 102 points (19g-83a) and 490 penalty minutes in 204 games.

During his initial tenure with the Predators, Trotz and his family were active in a variety of service and charitable initiatives in the Middle Tennessee community. This commitment was recognized when Trotz was honored with the Community Spirit Award (in recognition for community service) at the 2005 O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions, presented by the Nashville Sports Council.

While he was the team’s head coach, the Trotz’s would donate $500 to My Friend’s House (a United Way agency) for each Nashville victory, with donations surpassing $260,000 in 2013-14. He was an active board member for Peterson for Parkinson’s Foundation, the Williamson County YMCA and the United Way, and also continues to work closely with Best Buddies of Tennessee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Trotz and his wife, Kim, have four children: Shalan, Tyson, Tiana and Nolan.

The 2023-24 season will be Andrew Brunette’s first as head coach of the Nashville Predators. Known as one of the top offensive and power play minds in the NHL, Brunette was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on May 31, 2023.

A veteran of more than 25 years in the NHL as a player, coach or front-office member, Brunette, 50, arrived in Nashville after serving as an associate coach for the New Jersey Devils in 2022-23. The Devils finished second in the Metropolitan Division and third in the Eastern Conference with a 58-18-6 record (112 points) and reached the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs following a seven-game series victory over the New York Rangers in the opening round. New Jersey tied for fourth in the NHL in goals with 289, the franchise’s highest total since 2000-01.

In 2021-22, Brunette took over as interim head coach of the Florida Panthers – his first NHL head coaching job – less than a month into the campaign and guided the club to the best regular season in franchise history, going 58-16-6 (122 points) en route to the Presidents’ Trophy. In addition to owning the League's best record, the Panthers led the NHL in goals (337) and posted a power-play percentage of 24.4 percent, tied for the NHL's fourth-best mark. Several Florida skaters established offensive career highs, including Aleksander Barkov (39 goals), Jonathan Huberdeau (85 assists and 115 points), Sam Reinhart (82 points) and Aaron Ekblad (57 points); Barkov was a finalist for the Selke Trophy and Huberdeau was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team. For his efforts, Brunette finished second in voting for the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL's top head coach.

He spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach for the Panthers, reaching the postseason in both campaigns. Prior to his stint in Florida, Brunette was with the Minnesota Wild organization for seven seasons, occupying several roles and qualifying for the playoffs on six occasions. He served as Minnesota's director of player personnel in 2018-19; was an assistant general manager in 2017-18; spent three seasons as a hockey operations advisor from 2012-14 and 2016-17; and stood behind the bench of an NHL team for the first time from 2014-16 as an assistant coach.

As a player, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward appeared in 1,110 games during his 16-season NHL career for Washington, Nashville, Atlanta, Minnesota, Colorado and Chicago, posting 733 points (268g-465a). He played for Barry Trotz, Nashville's first-ever head coach, on the Predators' inaugural team in 1998-99, recording 31 points (11g-20a) in 77 games, scoring the first goal in franchise history on Oct. 13, 1998 vs. Carolina. Originally selected by Washington in the seventh round (174th overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft, Brunette reached the 50-point mark eight times, including a career-high 83 points (27g-56a) with the Avalanche in 2006-07, earning votes for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given to the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship, on seven occasions.

In addition to playing for Trotz in Nashville, Brunette began his professional career with the Predators GM as his head coach on the AHL's Portland Pirates in 1993-94, where the two won the Calder Cup. The following season, Brunette made his NHL debut with Washington but also spent 69 games with Portland under Trotz, posting 94 points (28g-66a) on his way to being named to the AHL's Second All-Star Team. Brunette served as an alternate captain in seven of his final 10 NHL seasons, holding the title with Minnesota and Colorado, and is one of just 25 players drafted in the seventh round or later in League history to skate in more than 1,000 career NHL games.

Brunette and his wife, Lorie, reside in Brentwood.