Nashville Predators Want Exponential Improvement With New Coach

Predators GM David Poile let Barry Trotz go in April. He says Peter Laviolette was an obvious choice, though he talked to several former players and assistants before making the decision. Credit: Nashville Predators via streaming video

The Nashville Predators have hired a new head coach after letting Barry Trotz go last month. Team general manager David Poile announced at a press conference Tuesday the hiring of Peter Laviolette [LA-vee-oh-LET], who was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers last year.

“He’s going to play a little bit different way, which I think will be good for our players for a change,” Poile said. “And I think it gives us a good chance to be very successful, very soon.”

In a news release, the Predators point out that all three NHL teams Laviolette has coached have “improved exponentially in the first full season after he took the helm.” With the Carolina Hurricanes, Laviolette won the Stanley Cup, something the Predators have never done.

Trotz was the only coach the Predators had ever had. He put together a streak in which the team went to the playoffs seven out of nine seasons. But for the last two years, the Predators didn’t come close to making the post season.