The Nashville Predators have decided to move in a different direction. The team announced that head coach Peter Laviolette has been relieved of his coaching duties, along with associate coach Kevin McCarthy. General manager David Poile released a short statement:
Under the leadership of Peter and Kevin, our organization reached unprecedented heights – from our franchise-altering run to the Stanley Cup Final to a Presidents’ Trophy and our first two Central Division titles. Their passion for the game, ability to motivate a team and drive to be the best makes this a difficult decision. On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Peter and Kevin for all their contributions to the Nashville Predators over the past five-and-a-half seasons.
Just a few days ago Poile had claimed that Laviolette’s job was not in jeopardy, but that apparently didn’t last long. The Predators lost again last night in a shootout to the Anaheim Ducks, putting them at 19-15-7 on the season despite a positive goal differential. Their stars have been good, but the team can’t seem to get any sustained success, only once having a winning streak of more than two games. Perhaps most embarrassing was a loss to the Dallas Stars in the Winter Classic, even after getting out to a 2-0 lead.
Amazingly, the Predators are now looking for only their third coach in franchise history. Barry Trotz coached the team for their first 15 seasons, and Laviolette has been in charge since 2014. In that time he led the team to the Stanley Cup final and compiled a regular season record of 248-143-60, but clearly wasn’t the choice for the team at this point. A team representative told reporters including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that the head coach for the Predators’ game tomorrow night is “to be announced” as there was no interim coach named in the release.
It will be interesting to see if Laviolette quickly lands somewhere else in the NHL, as he has had an extremely successful career behind the bench. A Stanley Cup winner in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, he has an all-time head coaching record of 637-425-25-123 in the regular season and 75-68 in the playoffs.
Hockey coaches dropping like flies
David Poile – didn’t you say about 10 metaphorical minutes ago that firing Peter *wasn’t* on your list? Hmmmmm….and Killer, too?
@amk3510 – dropping like files, indeed!
Ahhh yes the famous “vote of confidence.” No matter how it is conveyed, it is usually a kiss of death for a coach in any league. No different. And we got a 2fer!
Though, I do hope Laviolette gets another chance. Dude has a solid resume.
Maybe he finished with his current list and this was at the top of the next one
@TJECK109 – David Poile made a list and checked it *once*! January 6th, a day that will live in Nashville Infamy.
*errata! Dropping like FLIES…ooof…
That’s what bad goaltending does to coaches. Same with Deboer.
@JD, There are definite parallels, there, for sure…
Sorry to see a great coach leave, but some great team will sign him soon.
he wolnt stay on the market long.
Lavi is a good coach with maybe one weakness of not adjusting his gameplan when it’s no longer working as well as it had in the past. Same issue that cost him his jobs in Carolina and Philly. Still, the bigger blame goes to Poile for clogging the roster up with duds like Granlund and Turris. The problem for the Preds is that their division is alot better than it was 2 or 3 years ago and the Preds have plateaued.
Chicago bound?
As a Hawks fan….Hopefully. Because young Colliton Has got to GO.
I bet New Jersey give him a look
Could Babcock be going to Nashville?
I’m putting my money on Pete DeBoer being the choice. Just a hunch.
Could Phil Housley be the guy being that he was fired from buffalo fairly fast?!
Who’s on the market that’s better?
Seattle’s first coach?