The Nashville Predators improved a lot this past season. GM Barry Trotz added Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Sjkei, and Scott Wedgewood. He also extended Juuse Saros for a long time. However, the start of the season is worrying.
The Predators are struggling to start the season with this new team, as they seem to have lost their identity. The foundation of this Nashville team was defense, but like most teams that add offensive players, they tried to overcome defensive mistakes.
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Look, sometimes it takes time for players to get used to a new system and coach. Just look at the Florida Panthers in 2022-23. Most people will point to the Edmonton Oilers last year. This team is too good to not make the playoffs and be at the top of the Central.
Although coach Andrew Brunette is not on the hot seat, this team needs to turn things around quickly. The whispers have started.
As TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said Friday on TSN Montreal Radiohe said no coaching change is on the table. It's a chemical problem, but it needs to be turned around quickly before the season is lost.
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Host: “See how much difference you can make in a few days. The last time we talked to Darren, the Oilers were winless, and now they're on the heater. Not so much for the Nashville Predators, though. Darren Dreger, hello.”
Darren Dreger: “Hello guys, hello.”
Announcer: “I'm sure that when Barry Trotz went out and did the fireworks he did this season and started 0-4 (now 0-5) for the Preds, it wasn't what he had in the cards. Was that so?”
Dreger: “No, I would say that is certain. But, look, here's a guy who won a lot as an NHL head coach and now he's building his own team as a general manager and seeing that. When you change the way the Preds have done this offseason, and add a few streak winners, as Trotz likes to describe Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, you have to expect growing pains, and that's exactly what Andrew Brunette and the team are going through right now.
But they talk about other things that I think can be relevant and let's start with the players. Jonathan Marchessault basically describes the team as fragile right now, you know? Then hear Trotz and others talk about how they are committed to the building. They try to overcome their problems.
Well, it feels a lot like what the Edmonton Oilers went through to start last year because they had all that high-octane talent. It's just natural for you to lean on your top guys, but if your top guys aren't doing well, you're going to struggle, you're going to lose games, and that's what's happening now with the Nashville Predators.
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But I'm still in the camp looking at this list and I'm leaving, come on. I mean they'll have to find a way. But Andrew Burnette fellas, I can just tell you, you know, it's the nature of the beast here, and a lot of coaches are run in a defense-first way. I mean, that's the way he played the game, right in the National Hockey League.
So, it's a chemical experiment in Nashville, but we better start turning the other way quickly; if not, the Preds will be very deep in the hole. “
Nashville is looking for its first win and will try to get it on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.
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