Home / News / Barry Trotz flies to Newark, Seattle in search of next NHL job

Barry Trotz flies to Newark, Seattle in search of next NHL job

By Ian Oland

 2 Comments

June 19, 2018 1:33 pm

Monday afternoon, Barry Trotz officially resigned as head coach of the Washington Capitals. Trotz asked for a five-year extension worth around $5 million per season, which would have made him one of the highest paid coaches in the league. The Capitals passed, making Trotz the eighth NHL coach in the expansion era to not return after winning the Stanley Cup.

Trotz did not sulk at home. As news broke, the 55-year-old bench boss jumped on a plane to find his next job.

Around 5 PM Monday, Caps fan Drew F. took a photo with Trotz after the coach deplaned at Newark Liberty International Airport. Beyond the Capitals, the New York Islanders are the only other team in the NHL who do not have a head coach.

After finishing his business in the New York metropolitan area, Trotz returned home last night. A source tells RMNB that Trotz took a direct flight to Seattle from Reagan National Airport this morning.

Seattle is still in the “paperwork phase” of getting an NHL franchise. According to NBCSN, the expansion team will likely join the NHL by 2020, setting it two years away from dropping the puck for its first game.

On Monday, longtime Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett was hired as a senior advisor for the Tod Leiweke-run group trying to bring hockey to Washington state. While it’s possible Tippett could eventually become the squad’s first head coach, Trotz’s flight to Seattle a day after resigning from the Capitals suggests the job is in play.

Two decades ago, Trotz was hired to be head coach of the expansion Nashville Predators. Trotz never took the Predators past the second round of the playoffs during 15 seasons with the team. He is the fifth winningest coach in NHL history.