Islanders name Trotz as head coach
Barry Trotz became the head coach of the New York Islanders on Thursday, days after he resigned as head coach of the new Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.
Reports put the price tag on the five-year deal at up to $4 million per season, which would more than double what Trotz, 55, would have made with the Washington Capitals.
Trotz was on the open market after resigning his post with the Stanley Cup champion Capitals. The Cup victory over the Vegas Golden Knights triggered a contract extension for Trotz at well below market value -- $1.8 million per season -- and he and the Capitals failed to come up with an amicable solution in negotiations.
The presence of Lou Lamoriello, who became the Islanders' president of hockey operations last month, was a key factor in attracting Trotz to New York. Lamoriello previously was the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils.
"No. 1, if you know anything about Lou Lamoriello, his background and what he does, he'll do what it takes to win," Trotz said, according to Newsday. "That got me excited right away.
"His vision and plan for the team and what he's already done in a short amount of time, he's changed a lot of cultural things. I love that. That's what they hired me to do in Washington, change the culture and try to win the Cup. That's what we'll try to do on the Island."
Trotz is the first coach since Mike Keenan in 1994 to not return to the NHL champions the following season because of a dispute. Scotty Bowman retired after a 2002 Stanley Cup win.
Asked if he thought the Capitals wanted him to stay, Trotz said, per Newsday, "I don't think that was an issue. I think it was more principle."
The Islanders parted with longtime general manager Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight while bracing for the potential departure of star free agent John Tavares.
Lamoriello assumed the GM role, and he announced Trotz was hired on Thursday as the team converged on Dallas for the NHL draft.
Trotz said of Tavares, according to Newsday, "Obviously, John is such a big part of the team. We talked. We talked about a lot of things, the vision that was relayed to me and also relayed to John from Lou. We talked about where he was. We talked about the team and areas we feel we can fix together and areas we can look to improve upon. It was a great conversation."
Trotz, 55, guided the Capitals to the Presidents' Trophy two of the past three seasons and is fifth in the NHL in all-time victories with 762.
--Field Level Media
