Where will Barry Trotz coach next?
The New York Islanders and, more specifically, GM Lou Lamoriello shocked the hockey community this week by relieving head coach Barry Trotz of his duties. It was an unceremonious farewell to the third-winningest coach in NHL history and two-time Jack Adams Award winner. In a Newsday story from Andrew Gross, former Islanders assistant GM and coach Doug Weight indicated the decision wasn’t about Trotz’s performance and that “something else is going on down the road that Lou is not feeling good about.”
It remains to be seen what that “something” is. But if Trotz wants to work again immediately, he’ll have no trouble finding a head coaching gig for 2022-23. So we asked the Daily Faceoff Roundtable to make a prediction.
Barry Trotz will coach his next game for _____?
MIKE MCKENNA: Well, since you asked which team Barry Trotz will coach next, it makes the question easier for me. Because I believe there is a very real chance that Trotz takes a year off from coaching. He’s been behind the bench nonstop for quite some time, and I don’t think anyone enjoyed the COVID years. My gut tells me that Trotz will collect his remaining salary from the New York Islanders over the next year and spend time with family, much like Gerard Gallant did after he was unceremoniously fired in 2020 by the Vegas Golden Knights. But my head says otherwise. Barry Trotz is an NHL head coach. It’s his identity and his passion. And I think when the right situation presents itself in the near future, he’ll have a very difficult time saying no. I think Trotz could help the Flyers. And I know the Red Wings would benefit immensely from someone with Trotz’s resume. But two teams stand out to me: the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars. Winnipeg has done some soul-searching in recent weeks since missing the playoffs, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is open to an entirely new coaching staff. It seems like core players like Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck want to stick around so long as the team is committed to winning. And hiring Trotz would be a good step towards accomplishing that goal. But I really see Dallas as a wildcard in the Trotz sweepstakes. Rick Bowness is in the last year of his contract, so plenty remains up in the air. And the Stars’ roster is in need of an offensive overhaul. But with a burgeoning star goaltender in Jake Oettinger, strong leadership from captain Jamie Benn and a committed front office in Dallas, I think Trotz would be a perfect fit.
CHRIS GEAR: I’m going to say Trotz finally coaches in Canada and ends up with the team of his home province, the Winnipeg Jets. They say you can always go home, and I think the Jets have the kind of roster that Trotz would be excited about – talented but underperforming. Trotz could be the missing ingredient for what ails a team that had no business missing the playoffs with its star-studded roster. Plus, who better to endure Winnipeg winters than someone with Manitoba blood? The fit makes sense – he would be surrounded by people that are pretty universally liked and respected like he is, in owner Mark Chipman, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and assistant GMs Craig Heisinger and Larry Simmons. A Trotz signing would probably be enough for Frank Seravalli to take Winnipeg as his Cup favourite for the second straight year!
FRANK SERAVALLI: I don’t think Barry Trotz is going to take a year off. He is a hockey lifer, the only coach in NHL history to be behind the bench for 23 consecutive seasons without interruption – never fired midseason, always continually employed, even with three different franchises. I don’t see that streak coming to an end. And yes, Trotz will be hired as quickly as he decides he wants to work. The Jets make the most sense to me, but Chris Gear already stole that thunder. So I wonder if there are a few under-the-radar opportunities that might percolate this offseason. This is believed to be the final year of Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s contract. To my knowledge, he doesn’t have an extension for next season, but I believe Bruce Cassidy does. If there is a management change in Boston (still a big if), will the Bruins also move on from Cassidy? It seems there’s been some friction there between the hard-driving Cassidy and some of his players. The other is the Florida Panthers. I think everyone has been operating under the assumption that interim coach Andrew Brunette will be back next season. Fair assumption to make, and GM Bill Zito has more or less said as much. What if Brunette prefers a management role? There are some rumblings in hockey circles that he might. If you look at his career arc, it makes sense. He’s spent 10 years working since stepping off the ice as a player – and five of them were in the front office, not on the bench, as assistant GM, special assistant and director of player personnel. If Florida falls short this year and Brunette prefers a different path, maybe Trotz is the choice to try and get the Cats to the Cup?
SCOTT BURNSIDE: I just want to point out that Mike took all the good teams and I happen to agree with him on all fronts regarding what happens next for Barry Trotz. I, too, am wondering if Trotz doesn’t seek out a different challenge. He’s been grinding at the NHL level non-stop since Nashville came into existence in 1998, and someone with his smarts and command of the game would be a great addition to any team’s hockey operations department in whatever role he might want to tackle. You don’t often see coaches make that jump into management but I think the NHL is in a phase now where the old ways of doing business are slowly being tested and revamped. Could such a position be created in Nashville, where the team continues tread water after its trip to the 2017 Stanley Cup final? What about Anaheim, where Pat Verbeek is trying to put his stamp on the Ducks organization? Or San Jose, where there is a ton of work that needs to be done in the wake of Doug Wilson’s departure? Basically name a team and I think Trotz would be a welcome addition, and if he does decide to take some time away I would expect a battle between ESPN and Turner Sports to get him on their screens. He would be a natural.
MATT LARKIN: I will say the Vegas Golden Knights. They have established themselves very clearly as a team with little loyalty, and I don’t think they would hesitate to drop Pete DeBoer even after just one playoff miss. Owner Bill Foley wants the shiniest, best thing available at all times, and it doesn’t get much better behind the bench than Trotz. From Trotz’s perspective, he would inherit a team with plenty of talent, one he could probably get back into Cup contender mode immediately, especially considering all the injury woes Vegas endured this past season.
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