Stars like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi could have bounce back seasons under new head coach Andrew Brunette, but one peripheral player may benefit from Brunette's experience equally as much.
Stars like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi could have bounce back seasons under new head coach Andrew Brunette, but one peripheral player may benefit from Brunette's experience equally as much.
Last week, incoming GM Barry Trotz announced Andrew Brunette as his choice for the new head coach of the Nashville Predators. Brunette and Trotz are looking to bring a fresh style of hockey to the Predators - one that is faster and more offensively minded. When imagining this Nashville roster playing a more offensive style of hockey, fans likely first think of players like Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg, or Roman Josi who had career offensive numbers two seasons ago.
Forsberg was asked for his thoughts on the new head coach after the press conference.
"He's proven he can get groups together and obviously that offensive part is I think something that I am really looking forward to learn from."
If Brunette's coaching can reignite the offensive punch of Nashville's top players, that would go a long way in keeping the Predators moving in the right direction during this "reset".
But there is another peripheral player who may connect with Brunette's past hockey career and blossom under his coaching.
Brunette was drafted 174th overall in the seventh round of the 1993 draft by the Washington Capitals. His hockey career included time in the ECHL and AHL before finally working his way into the NHL.
"He hasn't come up the easy way," Trotz said of Brunette's playing career. "[He wasn't] the first round pick, get all the chances, get all the ice time - all that. He earned everything he got."
That sounds a bit like 27 year old Kiefer Sherwood. Nothing about Sherwood's path to the NHL has been easy. He spent time with the US National Development Team and in the USHL but went undrafted. Sherwood played in the NCAA for three years at Miami University (Ohio). He signed an entry level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, bouncing back and forth between the AHL and NHL even as he later signed with the Colorado Avalanche. In July 2022, David Poile signed him to one year deal.
Sherwood impressed in training camp last summer earning a spot on the Nashville roster for just over a month before heading back to Milwaukee. He was recalled in late February as the Predators dealt with veteran injuries. After the NHL season, Sherwood rejoined the Milwaukee Admirals for their playoff run in which he scored four goals and eleven points.
Sherwood and Brunette's hockey careers closely mirror each other, and that is something that Barry Trotz feels will benefit Brunette coaching players who aren't top draft picks and immediate offensive stars.
"He can relate to someone who's coming up from Milwaukee," Trotz pointed out. "He's made it, he's done it, he's lived it."
Brunette isn't likely to overlook a player like Sherwood, but it isn't just a similar backstory that could catch Brunette's eye in training camp. Sherwood's speed and scrappy style of play may fit in with what Brunette wants to see from the Preds.
When asked about his style of play, Brunette was very clear.
"When you have the puck, keep it. When you don't have it, get it back as soon as possible."
This is a role Sherwood played well at the end of last season with line mates Luke Evangelista and Tommy Novak. Then head coach John Hynes complimented that forward line because Evangelista and Novak were creative playmakers while Sherwood's speed and skill at retrieving the puck and winning the puck battles set the trio up for offensive success.
There will be plenty of competition when it comes to forward depth at training camp, but Kiefer Sherwood will certainly get a fair shake from a coach who understands making the NHL the hard way and is looking for depth pieces who can execute his vision.
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