NHL on NBC analyst Mike Milbury made it clear who he believes is at fault for the Nashville Predators' disappointing season thus far, which resulted in head coach Peter Laviolette getting fired Monday.
Milbury pointed fingers at the club's top three centers - Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene, and Kyle Turris.
"I think the problem in Nashville is down the middle," Milbury said on Monday's broadcast. "Johansen, Duchene, and Turris, all chronic underachievers. You're not gonna win with those guys in the middle. You can't count on them. Johansen had one playoff season where he was going pretty good till he got hurt, but the rest of these guys, when the moment comes, they have faltered."
"... I don't see this middle as being anything I'd be afraid of to go up against. These guys I think are overpaid and underperforming."
Johansen, Duchene, and Turris have all had disappointing seasons thus far. Johansen and Duchene are the team's two highest-paid players this season, and Turris is tied for fourth.
| Johansen | Duchene | Turris | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP | 41 | 38 | 34 |
| G | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| A | 17 | 19 | 12 |
| P | 26 | 28 | 17 |
| AAV | $8M | $8M | $6.25M |
Nashville has not yet named a replacement for Laviolette. When studio host Kathryn Tappen asked what kind of coach could get this trio going, Milbury said it would require some magic.
"Houdini, it would be Houdini to get them going here in the middle," he said. "These guys ... they bark a lot. That's not good enough for me. They don't try hard enough down the middle here. And if you have that in that key position, you're never gonna be successful."
Milbury doubled down on the players' effort level and questioned their character.
"I don't see them coming to the well night after night with effort," he said. "That's what bothers me."
Johansen, Duchene, and Turris were all acquired in major moves by general manager David Poile during Laviolette's reign as head coach.
Johansen was traded straight up for Seth Jones in 2016, then eventually signed an eight-year, $64-million extension with the Predators. Turris came to Nashville from the Ottawa Senators in a three-way trade on Nov. 17, 2017, and immediately signed a six-year, $36-million extension that day. Duchene inked a seven-year, $56-million contract as a prized free agent this summer.
Milbury also noted that the Predators need better goaltending from Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros (combined .894 save percentage) to be successful, but he didn't tee off on the netminders in the same manner as he did Johansen, Duchene, and Turris.
Nashville is sixth in the Central Division and sits five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.