Barry Trotz thinks his reunion game against the Capitals will be ‘awkward’ and ‘weird’
Barry Trotz won a Stanley Cup last season with the Washington Capitals, getting his team past the second round of the playoffs for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era. But that’s where a lot of the fuzzy memories end.
Trotz resigned from the team afterwards in search of more money, and signed a five-year deal with the New York Islanders, joining Lou Lamoriello on Long Island.
Despite winning back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies with the Capitals, Trotz did not get an extension before the season last year and was a lame-duck coach. Trotz was almost fired twice during the regular season. After defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs, the coach told John Tortorella “I’m gone. I’m gone. I’m not coming back.”
Since then, the Capitals have minimized Trotz, not featuring the coach or mentioning his name during the team’s banner-raising night. The team will, however, present Trotz, Islanders’ associate coach Lane Lambert, and goaltending coach Mitch Korn with championship rings before Monday’s game.
Sunday, after beating the Hurricanes 4-1, Trotz talked about his reunion game against the Capitals.
By Ian Oland 5 years ago
