Barry Trotz won the Stanley Cup last season with Washington, but he’s on his way to becoming the New York Islanders’ bench boss.
The New York Islanders have hired Barry Trotz to become the 17th coach in franchise history, the team announced Thursday.
Trotz will replace Doug Weight behind the Islanders’ bench. Weight was relieved of his coaching duties on June 5 after finishing the season with a 35-37-10 record.
Trotz has 19 years of NHL coaching experience on his résumé and is fifth all-time amongst coaches in both games coached and won. He spent his first 15 years in the NHL as the head coach of the Nashville Predators and the last four with the Washington Capitals.
So yes, it’s not official but it’s confirmed: Barry Trotz will be the next coach of the #Isles. Lots more to come.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 21, 2018
The Predators made the playoffs in seven of those 15 seasons and the Capitals made it in all four, including back-to-back runs that led to the Presidents Trophy, awarded to the league’s best team during the regular-season. In 2017-18, the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights in five games to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
Lou Lamoriello, the team’s president of hockey operations and general manager, reportedly wanted a coach in place by the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The event will take place on Friday in Dallas, Texas.
The Islanders could look awfully different on Saturday afternoon. The organization holds the eleventh and twelfth picks in the upcoming draft and could use one or both to address their shortcomings in net and on defense. Last season, the Isles were one of the worst defensive clubs in recent history.
Additionally, the Islanders still have to sign John Tavares, the franchise’s captain and star player. If an extension isn’t reached by July 1, Tavares will become an unrestricted free agent. This weekend he is allowed to hear pitches from and interview with the other 30 NHL teams.
