The Nashville Predators are limping through the 2024-25 season with a disappointing 25-35-8 record, a far cry from the dominance head coach Andrew Brunette envisioned after a busy offseason. The team signed Jonathan Marchessault and traded for Steven Stamkos, expecting the duo to join Filip Forsberg in forming a powerhouse trio that would rule the Central Division. Instead, the Predators are languishing in seventh place, and Brunette isn’t mincing words about his veteran stars’ lackluster performance, calling them out for failing to lead as the team struggles.
Brunette, speaking via NHLtraderumors.com, didn’t hold back on his frustration with his veteran core. “We’ve got a lot of guys that haven’t been in this situation with our veteran guys,” he said. “Mentally, it’s a drain. It’s hard. But they’re going to be here a long time. Remember, they have a long time on their contracts.” He emphasized their role as leaders, adding, “They’re supposed to be our leaders, they have to set an example… We never want to be here again, but when we are here, we have to handle ourselves with a little bit more professionalism than they are right now.” It’s a pointed critique of Marchessault, Stamkos, and Forsberg—three All-Stars who were expected to carry the team but have fallen short.
The numbers tell a grim story. The Predators are dead last in the NHL in goals scored, averaging a league-worst 2.3 per game, and they’re 24th in goals allowed at 3.4 per contest. That’s a stark contrast to last season’s 47-30-5 record, which saw them make the playoffs. The additions of Marchessault and Stamkos were supposed to supercharge Nashville’s offense, but the team has lacked spark, even after trading for Michael Bunting midseason to try and shake things up. Brunette’s comments highlight a deeper issue: a lack of enthusiasm and leadership from the veterans, which has trickled down to the younger players who look to them for guidance in tough times.
For a team with such high expectations, this season has been a disaster. Marchessault and Stamkos, both on long-term contracts, were brought in to elevate the Predators, not to oversee a nosedive. Brunette’s public call-out might be the wake-up call they need to build some pride and urgency, even if the season is likely a lost cause. He’s clearly embarrassed by the team’s performance, but with his veterans locked in for the future, there’s hope that this rough year can be a lesson. If Nashville can channel this disappointment into motivation, next season might tell a different story—but for now, the Predators are a team in desperate need of a spark.
