The Nashville Predators are hiring Andrew Brunette as their new head coach, replacing John Hynes, reports ESPN's Kevin Weekes.

Brunette was nominated for the Jack Adams Award last season after piloting the Florida Panthers through their Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign in his first year as an NHL head coach.

He served as an associate coach for the New Jersey Devils in 2022-23.

Brunette has some experience within the Predators organization. He played for Nashville in 1998-99 and is credited with scoring the franchise's first-ever goal.

The 49-year-old netted 11 goals and 20 assists in 77 contests as a Predator and amassed 733 points in 1,110 career NHL games.

Brunette stepped in as Panthers head coach on an interim basis after Joel Quenneville resigned in October 2021. Brunette had been an assistant coach on Quenneville's staff since 2019.

Florida dominated the regular season but was ultimately swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. After falling short in the postseason, the Panthers moved on from Brunette and hired Paul Maurice.

The Panthers went 51-18-6 under Brunette's direction.

Hynes had one year remaining on his contract. The Predators finished the 2022-23 campaign fifth in the Central Division with a 42-32-8 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14.

In four seasons as head coach in Nashville, Hynes put together a record of 134-96-18. Hynes' Predators never advanced past the opening round of the playoffs.

Brunette will be the first head coach of Barry Trotz's tenure as general manager. The Predators announced in February that former executive David Poile was stepping down from the position after a 26-year run at the helm.

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