The Predators have hired former NHLer Matt Donovan as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, per a press release from the team.
Donovan, 34, played parts of four seasons in the NHL, wrapping it up with a two-game stint in Nashville in 2018-19. Most of his career was spent in the AHL, where he suited up for the Admirals in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The move confirms Donovan’s retirement from playing, but the left-shot defenseman was a capable offensive force up until the end. He spent last year on an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves, serving as an alternate captain and leading their blue line in scoring with 39 assists and 43 points in 69 games. A 2008 fourth-round pick of the Islanders, where he played 67 of his 69 career NHL games, Donovan also spent a year in the Sabres organization and logged time overseas with Sweden’s Frölunda HC, HV71 and Germany’s Adler Mannheim.
Donovan’s hiring continues a distinct trend in Nashville, where former players are hired for coaching roles. The team also brought in Darby Hendrickson, who logged over 500 NHL appearances over a 10-year career, as an assistant for the NHL bench earlier this summer. In 2023, they hired former Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie as an NHL assistant with over 600 games of NHL experience.