Playoff-Bound Predators 'Never Worried About Results'

In his first year behind the bench, head coach Andrew Brunette turned the Nashville Predators into one of the NHL's most dangerous teams in a matter of months. Once written off as a "bubble" playoff team at best, they are now locked into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

"It's just been such a fun season," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "I mean, there's been so many changes this year and... we came together as a team. We had a lot of new guys, a lot of new players that signed here and a lot of young kids that came up. We always talked about connecting as a team and getting closer as a team, and we kind of never worried about the results. Our main goal was to get better each game and connect as a team, and it's pretty cool to see how we came together."

Brunette may have been at the helm, but the Predators' journey to the postseason was a team effort in every sense of the word. It required trust – in the process, in the leadership and in each other.

Trust the Process

At first, the Predators struggled to adjust to Brunette's high-octane offensive system that rests on the key pillars of aggressively taking away space, turning opposing attacks into counterattacks and advancing the puck as quickly as possible at all times. They started the season with a 5-10-0 record. They limped into – and out of – the All-Star break, sitting four points back of a playoff spot as recently as mid-February.

Still, Brunette never wavered from his system – and his relentlessness paid off. The Predators went on a franchise-record 18-game point streak (16-0-2) and catapulted themselves into the playoff conversation. Since Feb. 17, they rank second in the NHL in points (43) and wins (20). They've scored the third-most goals per game (3.79), while allowing the fourth-fewest (2.54).

Related: Podcast: Predators' Playoff Forecast

“I knew it was going to take a little while with the players kind of wondering why we're doing certain things and why I’m asking them to do them,” Brunette said. “It was a little different, it was a little strange and it took a while. And I think it was good to have that little run in February, because I think they started to understand what it takes to get to our level of play. And now they're understanding why I'm asking them to do certain things.”

Trust the Coach

The only way Brunette's system – or any system, for that matter – can be successful is if there is total buy-in from the players at all times.

"I think sometimes as a player it might be a little uncomfortable in the beginning trying a new system, and there might be games where it doesn't work out," Josi said. "And it's easy to doubt everything - doubt yourself, doubt the system, doubt all that stuff - and I felt like we all just did a great job trusting in him, and he trusted us. We trusted the system and we kept working on it and got better and better.”

Related: Reasons Why Nashville Predators Defied Expectations & Clinched Playoff Berth

The trust between Brunette and his players was built on a foundation of open and honest communication. Brunette clearly communicated his expectations to the team, as well as his steadfast belief in their ability to meet those expectations. In return, the players were determined not to let him down.

“He deserves a ton of credit,” Josi said. “It wasn't an easy year in the beginning and he came in with a plan, he came in with a system and a way that he wanted us to play. And there were probably nights where we didn't execute it and his patience was amazing. He just stuck with it and kept believing in the system, kept believing in us and we felt that as a team.”

Trust One Another

"Relentless" has become the mantra for the 2023-24 Predators, in reference to the style of play that Brunette expects of them. The players credit Brunette for implementing the team identity – and for gifting them the "Relentless" hats that they sport in the locker room on a near-daily basis – but Brunette says the credit belongs to the players.

“They built the identity, not me,” Brunette insisted. “We’ve said it a million times, but [relentless] is just a word. It's what they do night in and night out, and I think they're wearing it very proudly and they're bringing it every night.”

While the Predators will be the lower seed in their first-round matchup, regardless of the opponent, they are a team no one wants to face.

Related: Podcast: The Predators are Going Dancing

"I feel like when we play well, we play such a complete team game," Josi said. "I don't know if there's a lot of teams that play like [ours]. All our lines are going; we need all four lines [and] we need all our D-men, and I think that's what made this year so fun. It's just a complete team effort from from start to finish, and I think that's why we made the playoffs."

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday April 20, with schedules likely to be released late on Thursday, April 18.