Photo: Sanford Myers
As the Caps continue their historic season, it’s easy to focus on the incredible achievements of their players. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby are just a few Caps who have racked up some impressive accolades.
How players perform on the ice is crucial to a team’s success, but the decisions made behind the bench are just as important. Tonight’s 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs garnered a special accolade for Barry Trotz.
The win moved Trotz into ninth-place on the all-time list of head coaches, per NHL PR. Trotz is one of four active coaches in the top nine.
Prior to coaching the Caps, Trotz was head coach of the Nashville Predators. He coached the team from its inaugural season for fifteen years, tallying 557 wins. Tonight’s Caps victory marked 649 wins in the book.
Barry Trotz (@washcaps) registered his 649th career win and passed Ron Wilson (648) for ninth place all-time among head coaches. #TORvsWSH
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 3, 2016
And who did Trotz pass to claim the ninth-place spot? His name is familiar: Ron Wilson, the only Caps coach to ever lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Hockey is known for its superstitions, after all, so interpret this however you wish…
