The Nashville Predators announced on Saturday that they have
signed head coach Peter Laviolette to a two-year extension.
The 51-year-old coach has led the Predators to an 88-52-24
record in his two seasons behind the Nashville bench. After failing to qualify
for the postseason, in the two seasons prior to Laviolette’s arrival, the
Predators have made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in both of those seasons.
The extension assures the Predators that Laviolette will
remain behind the bench through the 2020-2021 National Hockey League season.
This past season Nashville went 41-27-14, and won the second
Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. After defeating the Anaheim Ducks in
the opening round, they fell to the eventual Western Conference Champions, the
San Jose Sharks in the second round.
Following the 2014-2015 season, his first season in
Nashville, Laviolette finished third in the voting for the Jack Adams Award,
for Coach of the Year this past season, after leading the Predators to a second
place finish in the Central Division and a franchise third best wins (47) and
points (107).
With over 14 seasons behind the benches of the Carolina
Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Predators, he has
compiled a record of 477 wins, 334 losses, 87 overtime losses and 25 ties, through
923 games. In 102 postseason games, he has led his teams to a 52-50 record.
Laviolette became the second coach of the Predators, on May
6, 2014 replacing current Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who led
Nashville behind the bench, for their first 15 seasons in the NHL.
During the 2005-2006 season the Franklin, Massachusetts
native led the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Laviolette is 77 games shy of joining 26 other head coaches
in the 1,000 games club. He is also only 23 victories away from 500, a mark
only attained by 23 other coaches.
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