One thing that can make or break a team is coaching. Finding the right head coach can propel a team to new heights. This offseason we saw the coaching carousel take place. For example, the Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Philadelphia Flyers hired new coaches and it is paying off early. One man who is missed behind the bench is former Head Coach Barry Trotz. As of recently, he has spoken out about his head coaching availability.
Barry Trotz Would Like to Coach Original Six Team
Rumour: Barry Trotz opens up about his future behind the bench in the NHL.
Barry Trotz last coached the New York Islanders. And what a great stint it was, as he took the team to back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, they fell short of the ultimate goal and Lou Lamoriello shook things up and sent him packing. As he is still unemployed, Trotz has spoken out about coaching. Wanting to coach an Original Six team is cold but is that realistic? For now yes, but that could change at any time.
Every team in the Original Six has its coaches in Place. The Boston Bruins (Jim Montgomery), Chicago Blackhawks (Luke Richardson), Detroit Red Wings (Derek Lalonde), and Montreal Canadiens (Martin St Louis) have all hired new coaches. New York is entering year two with Gallant and Toronto still had Sheldon Keefe at the helm. A spot is not open, but that does not mean it won’t be.
The Most Logical Destination
The teams that have just hired new coaches are not going to come calling. But one team that could make sense is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Depending on how the remainder of this season goes as well as a playoff run, changes could be coming. And if there is a guy who can be brought to change a franchise around, it is Barry Trotz. An original six franchise is a big deal and Trotz mentioned, “Original Six, for me, I have never coached an Original Six team,” Trotz told the “Cam and Strick” podcast Tuesday. “That would intrigue me … those teams always intrigue you. But the Canadian teams, you’re under the microscope. You sort of are in New York, too.” It sounds like if one of those teams needs a new coach, Trotz would be more than happy to be the guy.
As head coach, Barry Trotz is one of the best coaches to lead a team. He is a 2x Jack Adams winner and a Stanley Cup Champion with the Washington Capitals. The guy has coached the second most games behind Scotty Bowman (2,141) and is the third-winningest coach in NHL History (914). A guy of his pedigree is worth having behind the bench to lead a team. He said he will not coach this season, but anything is on the table for next year.
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