After a disappointing 30-44-8 regular season, Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators]second-year head coach Andrew Brunette [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/trotz-predators-are-standing-behind-andrew-brunette-despite-30th-place-finish] faced pressure from the fan base, but general manager Barry Trotz stood by him. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/trotz-predators-are-standing-behind-andrew-brunette-despite-30th-place-finish] At end of the year availability, Trotz said Brunette is a "good, young coach" but needed to add a lot of "tools" to his "tool belt." Trotz believeds Brunette can add more "tools" by coaching at the IIHF World Championship. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/shows/the-wraparound-has-the-narrative-about-oilers-stuart-skinner-shifted] "He added a lot of tools throughout the year and I think he [Brunette] is going to add more at the World Championship this year, coaching with Team Canada," Trotz said. Brunette was an assistant coach for Team Canada, the first time in his career that he had represented his country as a player or coach. The staff also included Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] head coach Dean Evason [https://thehockeynews.com/news/kEL9wUCCeQh9IkJZM5Ch], Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames] head coach Ryan Huska, and Blue Jackets assistant coach Steve McCarthy as associates. Canada hadn't finished lower than fourth at the World Championship in over a decade and had won the top prize four times in that stretch. With players like Sidney Crosby [https://thehockeynews.com/news/DG8UjNMDfgH5VCxb4ENk], Marc Andre Fleury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/aKOtvFvCZLcQPmrOEINH] and Nathan MacKinnon joining this year's team, Canada was a favorite to win the Gold Medal [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/how-canada-s-world-championship-squad-went-from-being-destined-for-gold-to-devastation]. That was not the case. After plowing through the early stages of group play, Canada lost in a shootout to Finland and closed out preliminary play with a 5-3 loss to Sweden. It finished atop Group A but was stunned by Denmark [https://thehockeynews.com/news/S5OfFwk73vH8B4LW32ZE]in the quarterfinals, 2-1, which was just the second time the Danes had defeated Canada. Canada finished in fifth place, its worst placement since 2014. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/how-canada-s-world-championship-squad-went-from-being-destined-for-gold-to-devastation] This is the sixth time in 20 years that it has finished lower than fourth. In addition to Ryan O'Riley playing for Canada, Brunette faced three of his players: Filip Forsberg (Sweden), [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/filip-forsberg-praises-nashville-teammate-juuse-saros-after-sweden-finland-game] Justus Annunen (Finland) and Juuse Saros (Finland) [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-juuse-saros-team-finland-eliminated-from-iihf-men-s-world-championship]. Saros started against Canada, making 37 saves on 38 shots and allowed just one goal in the shootout. Forsberg also recorded an assist in Sweden's win over Canada. To Trotz's point, lessons may be learned the hard way for Brunette, as this was his first time coaching internationally. However, it was valuable experience added to his coaching resume. Despite Brunette not bringing home any hardware, three other Predators are. Defenseman Brady Skjei and forward Michael McCarron helped the United States win their first Gold Medal in 92 years. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-skjei-mccarron-help-united-states-to-1st-iihf-world-championship-in-92-years] Forsberg also won the Bronze Medal.
