Brunette was nominated for the Jack Adams Award during season as Panthers interim head coach
Brunette was nominated for the Jack Adams Award during season as Panthers interim head coach
A former Florida Panthers head coach is getting another chance to run an NHL bench.
According to ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes, former Panthers Interim Head Coach Andrew Brunette will be hired by the Nashville Predators as the team’s next coach.
Brunette spent the past season as an assistant coach on Lindy Ruff’s staff with the New Jersey Devils.
During the 2021-22 season, Brunette was in his third year as an assistant with the Panthers when he was promoted to interim head coach following the departure of Joel Quenneville.
Brunette led Florida to the Presidents’ Trophy and the most successful regular season in the franchise’s 28-year history.
The Panthers also won a playoff round for the first time since 1996, but the team was swept in round two and management decided the style of play wasn’t one they thought would work during the postseason.
Florida hired Paul Maurice in the offseason and Brunette, who was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top head coach, moved on to New Jersey.
Now Brunette gets a shot to coach without the interim label and for a team he once played for.
It’s a great opportunity for the 49-year-old hockey lifer.
Brunette enjoyed a 16-year playing career in the NHL, racking up 733 points over 1,110 games with six different franchises.
His coaching resume isn’t long, but it already has some solid highlights.
Best of luck in Nashville, Bruno.