Predators coach Andrew Brunette calls out veteran players, wants ‘a little more professionalism’ down final stretch
Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette isn’t too happy with some of his team’s veteran players.
Speaking to reporters following Thursday’s 4-1 home ice loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the second-year bench boss lamented the performance of some of his squad’s more experienced players, with the latest loss marking the fourth-straight game in which the Predators have failed to find the win column, a stretch in which the team has combined for three total goals.
“It’s challenging. We have a lot of guys who haven’t been in this situation, with our veteran guys for a while,” Brunette told reporters. “Mentally, it’s a drain. It’s hard. But they’re going to be here a long time. They have a long time on their contracts. They have to be our leaders and they have to set an example going a certain way so our young guys see that. We never want to be here again but, when we are here, we have to handle ourselves with a little bit more professionalism than we are right now.
“The expectations [coming into the season] were so big. The finish line is around the corner, and it’s hard. I feel for the players. It’s not a fun time here to be playing when you have nothing to play for. You can kind of get up for a few games, but it’s really hard, especially when you haven’t done it for a while. In saying that, that’s not an excuse to not find a little bit of energy, especially at home, to finish things off.”
As Brunette noted, there was much intrigue surrounding the Predators entering the 2024-25 campaign following a busy offseason that saw second-year general manager Barry Trotz commit to several big-ticket deals in free agency, including a four-year, $32-million agreement with Steven Stamkos, five years and more than $27 million for fellow forward Jonathan Marchessault, plus a seven-year, $49-million pact for defenseman Brady Skjei.
On the season, the Predators sit 25-38-8 and are on pace to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the second time in the past 11 seasons.