By the Numbers: Examining Head Coach Andrew Brunette's NHL Career

Make way for Coach Bruno.

As Nashville Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette gets set for his return to Smashville at the start of the upcoming 2023-24 season, we looked back at some of the numbers that have defined his career as both a player and a coach.

Let's get into it:

174th Overall

After tallying an intimidating 162 points in 66 games with the OHL's Owen Sound Platers - and receiving the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (league scoring champion) as a result - Brunette was selected 174th overall by the Washington Capitals at the 1993 NHL Draft. The man behind the decision? You guessed it. Then-Capitals General Manager David Poile.

Lucky No. 19

Poile liked Brunette so much, he ended up stealing the forward from his former club during the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. Brunette would play just one season in Nashville before departing for the Atlanta Thrashers, though fans who remember his offensive contributions during the Preds' inaugural season likely remember his jersey number too: 19.

5:12 of the First

After being shut out at home in their inaugural NHL contest, the Preds were eager to light the lamp in game number two. On Oct. 13, 1998, as the Predators faced the Carolina Hurricanes, Brunette would prove the man for the job - depositing the puck into the cage at 5:12 of the first period for the historic tally.

77 Games

After notching the first goal in the franchise's first victory, Brunette would skate in 75 more games for Nashville - all with former head coach and incoming GM Barry Trotz standing behind him on the bench. Brunette would register 31 points (11g-20a) for the Preds before heading further south to play with Atlanta.

6 Teams

In addition to Washington, Nashville and Atlanta, Brunette would skate with three more teams during his playing career in the NHL: the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. He played the most games in Minnesota, registering 321 points (119g-202a) for the club in 489 contests.

1,110 Games Played

When Brunette hung up his skates and retired from playing in the NHL, he had 16 seasons of memories to look back on. Brunette's final regular-season game on March 31, 2012 - in Nashville, if you can believe it - was number 1,110 for the veteran forward.

733 Points

During those 1,110 games, Brunette made a habit of reaching the scoresheet and concluded his career with 733 points (268g-465a). Brunette also reached the 50-point mark eight times, and tallied a career-high 83-point season with the Avalanche in 2006-07.

75 Games Coached

In 2021-22, Brunette coached his first full season in the NHL, serving as bench boss for the Florida Panthers for 75 contests. Brunette's Panthers - lest you forget - were quite good at hockey.

58 Wins

How good were they? Just take a look at their record. Under Brunette, the Panthers concluded their season with 58 wins, 18 losses and six overtime losses - only losing at home seven times and recording a franchise-record eight-straight wins to open their season.

1 Presidents' Trophy

Not convinced? Those 58 wins and six overtime losses gave Florida the 122 points needed to take home the Presidents' Trophy - the first for Coach Bruno in his freshman season behind an NHL bench.

10 Playoff Games Coached

The fun did not stop there for Brunette's Panthers. In the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Florida earned their first postseason series win since 1996, defeating the Washington Capitals in six games.

While the Panthers would see their playoff run dashed in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 10 games of postseason action signaled a return to Stanley Cup contention for the team from South Florida, with Coach Bruno's guidance playing a serious role.

249 Jack Adams Award Voting Points

Though his Panthers club didn't end up going the distance, when the votes were tallied up for the 2022 NHL Awards, Brunette's debut season as head coach received some well-earned recognition.

Finishing only behind Daryl Sutter, Brunette placed second in voting for the Jack Adams Award, receiving 249 points and 31 first place votes for the prestigious head coaching trophy.

13th Best Power Play

After Florida, Brunette took an assistant coaching job with the New Jersey Devils and worked some offensive magic for Lindy Ruff's young but talented squad.

From the 28th-ranked power play in the League the season prior, with Brunette's assistance the Devils improved their PP unit to the 13th best in 2022-23. Brunette's contributions additionally helped New Jersey clinch their first postseason berth since 2018.

25 Years

From his first shift on the ice at Bridgestone Arena to his hiring on Wednesday, Brunette will rejoin the Predators as they celebrate their 25th season of play in the NHL - and fans should be very excited to see him return.