 On May 6, 2014, it was announced that Peter Laviolette, former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, was hired to replace Trotz as the new head coach of the Predators.The team also hired Kevin McCarthy as an assistant coach.On June 27, 2014, during the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Predators traded right winger Patric Hornqvist and restricted free agent Nick Spaling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for right winger James Neal.