Islanders Name Barry Trotz Head Coach

Thanks to Scott Malkin and John Ledecky, Lou Lamoriello continues to orchestrate what could be a big year for the team born on the Island.

Our New York Islanders have named 2017-18 Stanley Cup winning coach, Barry Trotz as their next head coach. Trotz resigned from Washington on Monday after a dispute over an extension clause in his contract. He’s the first coach since Scotty Bowman to so. Money was a factor and Isles ownership stepped up. Trotz is rumored to be making $4M per season on a 5-year contract. Mike Babcock makes $6.25M per with the Maple Leafs. This is the best news we've heard since Mathew Barzal won the Calder last night.

Per SI.com, “Trotz, who turns 56 on July 15, spent the past four seasons behind the Capitals’ bench and previously coached the Predators from 1998 to 2014. He has a career regular-season record of 762 wins, 568 losses, 60 ties and 134 overtime losses. Since he led the expansion Predators to their first playoff berth in 2004, Trotz’s teams have only missed the postseason three times.”

While a Trotz run team had never advanced to the 2nd round prior to this year’s cup winning run, he brings an experienced coaching style to the Islanders - one that has gotten a lot out of all the teams he has coached since he started with Nashville. Trotz was 205-89-34 after 4 years with Washington, winning the Jack Adams for Coach of the Year in 2015. With Nashville, he was 557-479-100 in 15 seasons. He sits 5th in NHL history with & 62 total wins, 20 behind Isles legendary coach, Al Arbour. 

Trotz was also an assistant coach with Team Canada’s World Cup of Hockey program in 2002, 2003 (Won Championship) and 2009. Per Andrew Gross, Lou on new #Isles coach Barry Trotz: "Barry brings to the New York Islanders franchise a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience and success. He is and has been one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him.”

As a defensive minded coach, Trotz should help the Isles crumbling defensive scheme that took the team from the tops in the east earlier in the season to a 35-27-10 record last year under Doug Weight. The stats were all you needed to see from my post season recap. “Injuries, horrible defense, goal-tending and several other challenges seemed to derail the team and keep them from ever getting back to winning. The defense and goal-tending was so bad, the Isles were the worst in the NHL, surrendering 3.57 gpg, 35.6 spg and a league low, 73.2% PK rating.”

The 2018 NHL Entry Draft opens tomorrow and Lou Lamoriello will take the helm for the first time as Isles President and GM. With Trotz’s input, the tandem should help reshape the organization and, hopefully, have done enough for All-Star Center, John Tavares to remain with New York. Per Andrew Gross, “Also, not a done deal, and still a fluid situation, but sounds like Isles may have good news on John Tavares as well.” Per Brian Compton, “Said it when Lou was hired: I don't think he takes the job without having a good idea JT was staying. Now you have Barry Trotz in the fold. It's all falling into place.”

Rumors have Trotz looking to bring in some familiar coaches from his staff and possibly even a trade for Caps back-up goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, to help shure up the Isles net. Grubauer helped Washington make the playoffs before losing the starting playoff job to Brayden Holtby, who backstopped the Caps to a Cup win. I’m not sold on him, but I’m eager to see the new roster take shape.

What other announcements will be made prior to free agency on July 1^st? What trades could happen at this weekend’s Draft and going into training camp? How about a key signing or two? 

I’m ready. We all are. And to the greatest, most passionate and deserving fan base in the NHL, let me quote myself for a moment. "We may indeed be on the cusp of reaching that next step. Legitimacy, consistency and accountability breed champions.” 

Let’s see where this all goes.