Predators News: Coach Andrew Brunette RIPS Team In Extended Verbal Attack

The Nashville Predators dropped another game Thursday night in disappointing fashion, 4-1 to the Anahiem Ducks, and Preds head coach Andrew Brunette let his team have it postgame, ripping them in an extended verbal attack while addressing the media. He called out the veterans, those with the "long contracts" for a lack of "professionalism." Yikes.

Here's the part of Andrew Brunette's postgame where he's calling out the veteran players (the ones with "long contracts") asking for "a little more professionalism" over these last 14 games. pic.twitter.com/6euQTuqrh6
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) March 21, 2025

"The whole game, we were way too easy to play against in our own zone. We played pretty soft back there and that's sort of unacceptable."

While admitting that he "feels for the players," who just seem to be waiting for the season to end, he isn't giving them them any excuses.

"We've got a lot of guys that haven't been in this situation with our veteran guys," Brunette 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.

"It's important, they're supposed to be our leaders, they have to set an example going a certain way so our young guys can see that. 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 wasn't supposed to be like this in Nashville this season. Last summer, they made some big splashes in free agency, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei (those "leaders" who he wants to see more "professionalism" from).

Interestingly, as noted by insider Elliotte Friedman, GM Barry Trotz asked all the veterans before the trade deadline if they really still wanted to be there, and they all said yes. But it's simply not showing right now, per Brunette.

"We just gotta find a way to find a little joy in what we're doing," concluded the heat coach. "We gotta find... just a little piece of our identity, is what I'm asking for, begging for."

The Predators have lost four straight and have scored a total of just three goals in those losses. They're 25-35-8, in 7th place in the Central Division.