Predators coach Brunette: “We could cut every player in our lineup”

When the coach of the disappointing Preds was asked Tuesday if he had considered converting one of his high-profile players to a healthy player, Brunette went a step further.

“We could cut every player in our lineup,” Brunette said, according to Alex Daugherty of the Tennessee. “But unfortunately we need players to leave. It probably comes to mind at different times. But they have to earn it, you can’t just do it for the sake of doing it. It’s wrong to do something when you’re trying to create something.” … the players see through that.”

The Predators are in last place in the league with a record of 7-15-6 after an active offseason. They have lost seven straight and 11 of 13.

The team’s terrible start has raised questions about the job security of Brunette, who led the Predators to the playoffs last year in his first season with the team and suffered a first-round loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

The Predators have made the playoffs in nine of the last ten years.

Brunette was also asked if he was worried about some players getting scratches and others not. For example, it was noted that Michael McCarron was out at the start of this season, while Jonathan Marchessault (five goals, eight assists in 28 games) was not.

“You’re always worried. Players see it, players see through a lot of different things,” Brunette said. “With (Marchessault), you try to be patient with him, you try to make him feel comfortable. You try to find solutions for him. Because we’re going to need him.”

“With (McCarron), I’m sure he’s looking at the question, ‘What happened to me?’ But (McCarron), I think he was minus-10 at that point too. Unfortunately, like I said, I was able to cut every guy on the team.

The Predators will look to prevail against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Watch the game at 8:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West or Sportsnet+.