The Predators (6-12-4), who allowed a goal 11 seconds into the first period of an 8-3 loss to the Florida Panthers at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Monday, are last in the NHL. Last season they finished 30th (30-44-8).
‘I need more [expletive] of them,” Trotz told The Tennessean on Monday. “I need more.”
Trotz has previously said Brunette’s job is safe, and he made it clear he’s putting the blame on the players. Nashville is last in the league in goals per game (2.32) and 30th in goals against (3.68).
“I watch the game systematically,” Trotz said. “I know who makes mistakes. When the puck is on someone’s stick and he or she passes the puck well.” [the other team]that is not the case [Brunette’s] debt.”
Brunette is in his third season as Predators coach. They qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the first wild card in 2023-24 (47-30-5), losing to the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the first round of the Western Conference. Trotz famously canceled a team trip to see U2 at Sphere in Las Vegas that season, and his players responded with an 18 game point streak.
“What did I do a few years ago when they weren’t playing well? What did I do?” Trotz said. “I said you’re not [expletive] go see [expletive] U2. Then it became a bit like the ‘F-U’ tour, instead of U2. It made them say fuck you.
Trotz said he didn’t need to fire the coach to make the team play better.
“Someone will be fired in the League in the coming weeks. You’ll see, it’s just going to happen,” he said. ‘And what you’re going to hear from everyone [expletive] player is, ‘Oh man, we just underperformed, he was a really good coach, we just have to get better.’ And it gets everyone out of trouble. They say, ‘Well, it was him, not us.’
Trotz added that it comes down to the players giving more, including getting the players “greasier” and making sure they get in front of the net. His two big signings after the 2023/24 season: Steven Stamkos (four years, average annual value of $8 million) and Jonathan Marchessault (five years, $5.5 million AAV) – have scored four goals each this season.
But the GM admitted that more action may be needed, although he should not fire the coach if things continue to go in the wrong direction.
“We have some pieces,” he said. “The roster is not perfect. Part of it is a little bit the construction of the roster. I will take responsibility. I think the coaches take a little bit and I think the players do too. Everything is a partnership.”
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