Former Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was given the Jack Adams award Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The Jack Adams goes to the coach who was “judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success” as voted by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
After coaching the Capitals to a Stanley Cup in 2018, Trotz took over the helm with the New York Islanders and led them to the postseason after losing John Tavares during free agency.
Trotz has been a finalist four times with his first win coming with the Capitals in 2016.
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“I’d like to thank, first of all, the New York Islanders organization for giving me a chance, especially Lou Lamoriello, the ownership team, my coaching staff – this is a team award. You have to understand that from a coaching standpoint that I have some incredible coaches. They did a great job – our video coaches, our trainers, our players. You can’t have success in this league without the buy-in of the players, my leadership group.
“Most of all, when you have a team, you have a family and I am blessed to have one of the greatest families,” Trotz said. “My wife Kim, Shalan, Tyson, Tiana, and my little buddy Nolan. They are my rock. I am so blessed.”
Kim and Nolan were shown sitting in the stands during Trotz’s acceptance speech.
Barry received 58 first-place votes, with Jon Cooper from the Tampa Bay Lightning a close second with 51. Interim-head coach Craig Berube of the Stanley Cup-winning Blues was third (10 first-place votes) after taking St. Louis from last place in the league to a postseason appearance.
The expectations for the Islanders were low even before their captain John Tavares signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Trotz brought his skills (and goaltending coach Mitch Korn and associate coach Lane Lambert) to New York and made more of an impact faster than anyone predicted.
His defensive strategy helped the team who gave up the most goals in one season become the team who allowed the least in the following season, meaning goalies Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss took home the William M. Jennings Trophy as a result.
What a duo. Congratulations to @RobinLehner and Thomas Greiss on winning the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed! #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/I0N6mTJnF7
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 20, 2019
Congratulations to Trotz and his family. (And enjoy the burger.)
Headline photo: Sportsnet
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