Barry Trotz

Barry Trotz (born July 15, 1962) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is also the former head coach of the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitals. As an NHL coach, he is third all-time in wins, only behind Scotty Bowman and Joel Quenneville. He is often referred to by fans and players as "Trotzy" or the "Eggman".

Barry Trotz
Trotz coaching the Washington Capitals in 2015
Born	July 15, 1962 Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Ice hockey coach
Coaching career
Position	Head coach
General manager	Lou Lamoriello
Team	New York Islanders
Previous team(s)	Nashville Predators Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup wins	2018
Years as a coach	1984–present
Years as an NHL coach	1998–present
Years with current team	2018–present

He was previously the coach of the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Baltimore Skipjacks and Portland Pirates, with whom he won an AHL championship in 1994. That same year, he won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award,[1] which is awarded to the outstanding coach in the AHL as voted upon by the AHL Broadcasters and Writers. On February 20, 2013, Lindy Ruff was fired by the Buffalo Sabres, making Trotz the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL. He was also the second-longest tenured coach in the four major North American professional leagues, behind only Gregg Popovich of the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. On April 14, 2014, the Predators announced Trotz would not return for his 16th season as head coach.[2] On May 26, 2014, Trotz was announced as the new head coach of the Capitals.[3] On June 7, 2018, Trotz won his first Stanley Cup as the head coach, with the Capitals defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, in the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship. On June 21, 2018, Trotz was announced as the new head coach of the Islanders.[4]

Coaching career

Early years

Before becoming a coach, Trotz played as a defenceman for the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Regina Pats from 1979 to 1982, winning the WHL Championship in 1980.[5] During that time, Trotz played in 191 games, scoring 15 goals, adding 60 assists and accumulating 324 penalty minutes.[6] Trotz played his final year of junior hockey in his home town of Dauphin, Manitoba, where the Kings won the Manitoba Junior Hockey League title as well as the Anavet Cup.[7]

Trotz said he realized his playing was not good enough for an NHL career,[8] and started having doubts about his future. He wound up getting a spot attending training camp for the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Hershey Bears in 1982 thanks to Jack Button, director of player recruitment at the Bears' NHL parent club, the Washington Capitals. Button said to Trotz he was invited because Button believed Trotz "might be a good minor league leader or a coach someday".[9] Trotz began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Manitoba in 1984. The following season, he became the general manager and head coach for the Dauphin Kings. In 1987, he returned to the University of Manitoba as head coach, while also serving as a part-time scout for the Washington Capitals.[5]

Trotz became the head coach for the Capitals' minor league affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks, in 1992. On March 26, 1993, the franchise moved to Portland, Maine, and was renamed the Portland Pirates.[10] Trotz led the Pirates to two Calder Cup Finals, winning the Calder Cup in the Pirates' inaugural season of 1994.[1]

Nashville Predators (1998–2014)

Trotz during his tenure as head coach of the Nashville Predators.

When longtime Capitals general manager David Poile was hired by the newly established Nashville Predators, he decided to bring Trotz along to become the team's first head coach.[9] He was named the head coach of the Predators on August 6, 1997.[11] Even before the team began play, Trotz was involved in the Predators expansion process, doing player scouting and helping design the team facilities at the Nashville Arena.[8]

In the debut of both Trotz and the Predators at the 1998–99 NHL season, the team won 28 games, the third highest for an expansion team to date.[5] He holds the record for most games coached by the first coach of an NHL expansion franchise, previously held by Terry Crisp for the Tampa Bay Lightning.[5] Coincidentally, Crisp now works as a radio and TV broadcaster for the Predators.[12] In a November 4, 2008, game against the Vancouver Canucks, Trotz became just the tenth head coach in NHL history to coach 750 games with a single team, and the 31st to reach that mark overall.

The 2006–07 season was Trotz's most successful season, leading the Predators to the second-most points in the Western Conference and third overall at 110.[5] However, they trailed their division rival the Detroit Red Wings, therefore denying them the first division championship in club history. The Predators would fare no better in the playoffs, losing 4–1 to the San Jose Sharks in the opening round just as they did the year before.[13] Trotz finished fourth in the Jack Adams Award voting at season's end, but was voted by his peers Sporting News NHL Coach of the Year. He is well respected around the NHL for keeping his team focused.[14] He led the Predators to four consecutive playoff appearances from 2003 to 2008, and reached the playoffs again in 2009–10. Shortly after being eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, on April 28, 2010, Trotz was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year alongside Joe Sacco of the Colorado Avalanche and Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Trotz won his 500th game with a 4–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 30, 2012.

On April 14, 2014, the Predators announced Trotz would not return for his 16th season as head coach.[2] The Predators hired Peter Laviolette as Trotz's replacement on May 6, 2014.[15] Trotz's 1,196 regular season games coached puts him 14th on the all-time coaching list, and his tenure with the Predators was the longest unbroken coaching stretch in league history.

Washington Capitals (2014–2018)

Despite the Predators inviting Trotz to work in their hockey operations department, he wanted to keep coaching. Eventually the Washington Capitals, the same team that gave Trotz his first opportunities in professional hockey, hired him on May 26, 2014.[16]

On February 28, 2017, Trotz recorded his 700th win with a 4–1 victory over the New York Rangers, and became the sixth NHL coach to reach 700 wins.[17]

On June 7, 2018, Trotz and the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Stanley Cup Finals, and won his first Stanley Cup for the first time as head coach after 19 seasons, the longest such wait in NHL history. On June 18, 2018, Trotz resigned from the Capitals as their head coach due to a contract dispute.[18][19]

New York Islanders (2018–present)

On June 21, 2018, the New York Islanders hired Trotz as head coach.[20][21] On March 5, 2019, Trotz earned his 800th career win when the Islanders defeated the Ottawa Senators 5–4 after a shootout[22] In the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Islanders swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round and then were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. On June 19, 2019, Trotz won the Jack Adams Award for a second time.[23]

On August 20, 2020, the Islanders defeated Trotz's former team, the Washington Capitals, who he previously coached to a Stanley Cup championship in 2018, 4–1 in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On February 8, 2021, Trotz earned his 850th career win as NHL head coach and passed Ken Hitchcock for third place.[24][25]

International

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey, assistant coach
World Championship
	2003 Finland
	2009 Switzerland

Trotz was assistant coach for Canada at the IIHF World Championships three times: 2002, 2003 (when they won the gold medal) and 2009.[5]

Personal life

Trotz resides in Garden City, New York, with his wife and four children.[26] The family previously resided in Brentwood, Tennessee and Clarendon, Virginia.

An active member of the Nashville community, Trotz won the Community Spirit Award in 2005 for various charitable works, including donating $500 to My Friends' House (a United Way agency) for each Nashville victory through several seasons; serving as an active board member for the Williamson County YMCA and the United Way; working closely with Best Buddies of Tennessee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[5]

Trotz was named to the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame in 2005,[1] and to the University of Manitoba Hall of Fame in 2001.[5]

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season							Postseason
		G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	W	L	Win%	Result
NSH	1998–99	82	28	47	7	—	63	5th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	1999–2000	82	28	40	7	7	70	5th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2000–01	82	34	36	9	3	80	3rd in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2001–02	82	28	41	13	0	69	4th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2002–03	82	27	35	13	7	74	4th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2003–04	82	38	29	11	4	91	3rd in Central	2	4	.333	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (DET)
NSH	2005–06	82	49	25	—	8	106	2nd in Central	1	4	.200	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (SJS)
NSH	2006–07	82	51	23	—	8	110	2nd in Central	1	4	.200	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (SJS)
NSH	2007–08	82	41	32	—	9	91	2nd in Central	2	4	.333	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (DET)
NSH	2008–09	82	40	34	—	8	88	5th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2009–10	82	47	29	—	6	100	3rd in Central	2	4	.333	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (CHI)
NSH	2010–11	82	44	27	—	11	99	2nd in Central	6	6	.500	Lost in Conference Semifinals (VAN)
NSH	2011–12	82	48	26	—	8	104	2nd in Central	5	5	.500	Lost in Conference Semifinals (PHX)
NSH	2012–13	48	16	23	—	9	41	5th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH	2013–14	82	38	32	—	12	88	6th in Central	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
NSH total		1,196	557	479	60	100			19	31	.380	7 playoff appearances
WSH	2014–15	82	45	26	—	11	101	2nd in Metropolitan	7	7	.500	Lost in Second Round (NYR)
WSH	2015–16	82	56	18	—	8	120	1st in Metropolitan	6	6	.500	Lost in Second Round (PIT)
WSH	2016–17	82	55	19	—	8	118	1st in Metropolitan	7	6	.538	Lost in Second Round (PIT)
WSH	2017–18	82	49	26	—	7	105	1st in Metropolitan	16	8	.667	Won Stanley Cup (VGK)
WSH total		328	205	89	—	34			36	27	.571	4 playoff appearances 1 Stanley Cup
NYI	2018–19	82	48	27	—	7	103	2nd in Metropolitan	4	4	.500	Lost in Second Round (CAR)
NYI	2019–20	68	35	23	—	10	80	5th in Metropolitan	13	9	.591	Lost in Conference Finals (TBL)
NYI total		150	83	50	—	17			17	13	.567	2 playoff appearances
Total		1,674	845	618	60	151			72	71	.503	13 playoff appearances 1 Stanley Cup

References

1. "Pirates Hall of Fame – Barry Trotz, Head Coach". Portland Pirates.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
2. "What's next for fired coach Barry Trotz?". Retrieved June 18, 2018.
3. Stubits, Brian (May 26, 2014). "Barry Trotz named Caps head coach, Brian MacLellan promoted to GM". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
4. Khurshudyan, Isabelle (June 21, 2018). "Barry Trotz named Islanders' coach three days after resigning from Capitals". Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
5. "Barry Trotz: Head Coach". Predators.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
6. "Barry Trotz Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
7. Johnston, Ron (May 1, 2011). "EX-REGINA PATS - BARRY TROTZ". Regina Pats Alumni. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
8. Russell, Jimi (October 22, 2012). "Morning Skate With Head Coach Barry Trotz". Predators.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
9. McNally, Brian (May 28, 2014). "For Barry Trotz, path to coaching hockey started early". The Washington Times.
10. Edward D. Murphy (March 23, 2010). "Pirates, arena on a short lease, The team will stay in Portland for two years, but keep exploring other venues". Press Herald. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
11. "Nashville Predators Timeline". WSMV-TV. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
12. "Crisp & Weber Added to The Palm's Wall of Honor". Predators.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
13. "2007 NHL Playoff Summary". Hockey Reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
14. Kevin Allen (January 4, 2010). "Poile, Trotz find ways to keep Predators competitive on a budget". USA Today.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
15. "Peter Laviolette hired to replace Barry Trotz as Predators coach". Retrieved June 18, 2018.
16. Fendrich, Howard (May 26, 2014). "Caps hire Trotz as coach, make MacLellan new GM". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
17. Regan, J. J. (February 28, 2017). "Barry Trotz reaches 700 career wins on Tuesday against the Rangers". CSN Mid-Atlantic. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
18. Gulitti, Tom (June 18, 2018). "Trotz leaves as coach of Capitals". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
19. Gulitti, Tom (June 18, 2018). "Trotz, Capitals will know his worth soon enough". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
20. New York Islanders PR (June 21, 2018). "Trotz Named Head Coach" (Press release). National Hockey League. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
21. "Islanders name Trotz as new head coach". ESPN. Associated Press. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
22. "Jack Adams Award finalists unveiled". NHL.com. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
23. "Trotz of Islanders wins Jack Adams Award". National Hockey League. June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
24. Rosen, Dan (February 8, 2021). "Varlamov becomes first for Islanders to shut out Rangers twice in season". NHL.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
25. "Islanders blank Rangers 2-0, Varlamov earns 3rd shutout". AP News. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
26. Joyce, Greg (January 17, 2019). "Barry Trotz prepared for his long-awaited Stanley Cup tribute". New York Post. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database