Andrew Brunette 'Can't Wait for the Challenge' Behind Predators Bench

Incoming Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz announced on Wednesday that the team had hired Andrew Brunette as the fourth head coach in franchise history. Flanked by Trotz and outgoing GM/President of Hockey Operations David Poile at an introductory press conference later that day, Brunette described the moment as "full circle."

Thirty years ago, Brunette was drafted by Poile, then the GM of the Washington Capitals. Five years later, Poile selected him in the expansion draft to be a member of the inaugural Predators team coached by Trotz. Now, as the team enters its 25th anniversary season, Brunette will be behind the bench as head coach.

Full circle, indeed.

Of course, one thing that is regrettably still on Brunette's - and the Predators' - to-do list is winning a Stanley Cup. Hoisting the Cup is the ultimate goal for every NHL team, but for Brunette, chasing that goal with this franchise means more.

"Of course it drives me," Brunette said. "It probably drove everybody who put on a Nashville Predators uniform. I think you're always proud of the team you played for and the city you're in, and you always hope for the best for them… There's some unfinished business. There's lots of work to do and who knows how far we are from it? But it's always the goal, and to bring that to the city would be unbelievable."

A veteran of more than 25 years in the NHL as a player, coach or front-office member, Brunette comes to Nashville after serving as an associate coach for the New Jersey Devils during the 2022-23 campaign. The Devils finished second in the Metropolitan Division and third in the Eastern Conference with a 52-22-8 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 58-18-6 (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 under Brunette's leadership, 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.

"I think you learn a lot," Brunette said of his experience in Florida. "There's a lot of self reflection, but there's also a lot of pride. I think going in with that Florida group when it was just growing, there was a type of team that had some promise but we weren't there yet. And to be part of that group and watch it grow and watch the winning and the enjoyment level of that group, how infectious that was and how contagious it was and to see them grow and enjoy the game and enjoy winning, which they never had a lot of - that, for me, was the reward."

Brunette 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 in 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.

Throughout his coaching career, Brunette's teams have been known for their high-octane offense. Still, Brunette believes his coaching philosophy centers around more than just scoring goals.

"I think my philosophy of how I see the game is that I want to dominate the puck," Brunette said. "I want to have it as much as I can have it, and I don't want to chase around too much… I don't want to defend. I want to check, and I want the puck back."

With the talent currently on the Predators roster, the talent being developed at the AHL level in Milwaukee and the talent yet to be acquired through the draft and free agency, Brunette believes this team has the potential to be a major offensive threat. However, there is one key element that he wants to bring to the forefront as head coach.

"We have so many creative, offensive players, and I think the game is going that way," Brunette said. "I want them to enjoy the game [and play] a style of hockey that's enthusiastic, entertaining and fun to play. These guys are going to want to have fun… I want them to have fun coming to the rink every day because I think if you enjoy the game, you'll play better. As a player, I know when I didn't have fun, I stunk."

As a player, Brunette 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 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.

As a former seventh-round pick, Brunette is familiar with the hard work and dedication required to develop into an NHL player. His experience as a player has helped inform his philosophy as a coach and his ability to connect with players on a personal level to better understand their respective paths in their career development.

"Getting to know your player, getting a feel of where they're at, understanding why they are struggling, what they need and how they need it I think is important," Brunette said. "As the head coach, I think you're just trying to get the best out of them that you can."

Brunette began his professional career with Trotz 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 the Capitals 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 credits his AHL experience for adding value to his playing career and believes many of the players he coaches now can reap similar benefits in their quest for success at the NHL level.

"Obviously, you want the best for them and if it's here, great," Brunette said. "Milwaukee is an environment with the same kind of foundation that the Predators are built on, the same vision that we have about being a team, doing things the 'Predator Way,' and it's only going to help. I spent a lot of time in the American League, and if you're willing to go down and do the work, it's going to extend your career."

Brunette also noted that every player is on a different path in their development and that it would be his job as head coach to learn exactly what those paths are.

"I can't wait for the challenge," he said. "I can't wait to get to know all these guys. I can't wait to get on the ice."

Off the ice, Trotz and the front-office staff will be the ones calling the shots when it comes to organizational structure. But they will rely heavily on insight from Brunette, whose Video: Andrew Brunette on becoming Predators' new head coach creates a strong foundation for open communication.

"I think we're in constant communication," Brunette said. "I think we see things very similarly. And we'll collaborate, but he's got a job to do. Obviously, we'll talk a lot. But he's the manager and I'm the coach, and we both have different jobs and we're going to have synergy doing it."

Brunette smiled and quickly added, "But he's the boss."