NHL Rumors: Pete DeBoer Linked To Be Next Head Coach Of Spiraling Team
The Nashville Predators are sinking early in the season, and the pressure on head coach Andrew Brunette has never been higher.
After last year’s 30th-place finish, general manager Barry Trotz insisted on giving Brunette another chance, calling him a “good, young coach” who deserved patience. But at 5-9-4 with a 1-6-2 slide, trade rumors swirling around stars like Steven Stamkos, and visible frustration from players such as Ryan O’Reilly, the Predators look lost again.
That has insiders openly speculating about whether the organization can afford to stand still much longer, especially with a built-in reset point coming after the team’s Global Series trip to Sweden.
The Predators will soon be 1-6-2 in their past nine games. It is (past) time to fire Andrew Brunette.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) November 11, 2025
This franchise has more problems than the coach. But it must show its fans that these results will not be tolerated before they tune out.
Why Pete DeBoer Keeps Getting Linked to Nashville
That scrutiny is magnified because Pete DeBoer, a coach who prides himself on fast team turnarounds, is still available.
As Elliotte Friedman explained on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, DeBoer has a long history of igniting immediate improvement in his first season behind a new bench, even if his tenures eventually fade after a few years.
With the Predators desperate for a spark and struggling to match the expectations created by their spending spree on Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, DeBoer’s track record makes him an unusually clean fit. Multiple insiders, including Frank Seravalli, have suggested Nashville is the team “everyone is watching” if a coaching change happens first this season.
It’s very admirable of Barry Trotz that he “does not want to” fire Andrew Brunette.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) November 13, 2025
But there’s a lot of things in life that we as people don’t want to do and if you want to sit in that chair, you have to be willing to do it. If Trotz can’t fire Brunette, then Trotz can’t be GM https://t.co/n1TrZ6NZ1J
The biggest question now is whether Trotz is ready to pull the trigger. Nashville’s problems extend beyond coaching, but changing the voice behind the bench is often the fastest lever a GM can pull.
With the Predators playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sweden and then getting a nearly week-long break before facing the Colorado Avalanche, the schedule offers a perfect window for a transition.
If the overseas trip doesn’t revive the team’s energy, the door is wide open for DeBoer to become a serious candidate, and could be the Predators’ best shot at salvaging their season.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
