Just four days after resigning as head coach of the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz has found a gig with the New York Islanders. Thursday afternoon the team announced that Trotz, who ranks fifth all-time in NHL coaching wins, would be their new bench boss. Earlier in the day, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the sides were closing in on a five-year contract worth at least $4 million per year.

“Barry brings to the New York Islanders franchise a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and success,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. “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.”

Advertisement

The deal appears to be a win for all sides, including the Caps. Trotz, 55, resigned as head coach of the Capitals Monday after Washington’s Stanley Cup victory automatically extended his expiring contract for another two years with a salary of $1.8 million per year. Trotz wanted a longer contract worth more money than the Capitals were willing to pay.

With Trotz signing with the Islanders, the team gains credibility with a Stanley Cup-winning GM and head coach at the helm as they look to re-sign star center John Tavares. The coach gets his desired payday. And the Capitals will likely move on to Todd Reirden, who the team was “grooming” to be a head coach according to Capitals GM Brian MacLellan.

Here’s the Isles’ press release:

EAST MEADOW, NY (June 21, 2018) – The New York Islanders announced today that Barry Trotz has been named Head Coach.

“Barry brings to the New York Islanders franchise a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and success,” said Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello. “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.”
Trotz, 55, enters his first season as the Islanders Head Coach after spending the last four with the Washington Capitals. During his tenure in Washington, he led the Capitals to two consecutive Presidents’ Trophies (2015-16 and 2016-17) and won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup (2017-18). He was awarded the Jack Adams Trophy (2015-16), given annually to the coach voted best in the league. Prior to joining the Capitals, Trotz spent the previous 15 seasons as Head Coach of the Nashville Predators. He ranks third all-time in NHL history in both games coached (1,196) and wins (557) with a single franchise.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has earned over 700 NHL wins, making him the sixth
coach in NHL history to achieve that milestone. He has posted a 762-568-60-134 career record
and ranks fifth in NHL history in wins and games coached (1,524). Trotz also ranks second among active head coaches in all-time wins and games coached.

Prior to joining the Predators, Trotz spent five seasons (1992-97) as the coach of the Capitals’ primary affiliate at the time in the American Hockey League, the Baltimore Skipjacks. The franchise relocated to Portland, Maine in 1993 and he led the Portland Pirates to two Calder Cup Finals appearances during the next four seasons. In 1994-95, Trotz coached Portland to a Calder Cup Championship and a league-best record of 43-27-10. He was named the AHL Coach of the Year that same season.

On the international stage, Trotz has served as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and at the IIHF World Championships on four occasions, most recently at the 2013 tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, and Helsinki, Finland. In 2003, he helped Team Canada win gold in Finland, and in 2009, he helped guide Canada to a silver medal in Switzerland.

Headline photo: Chris Gordon