Photo: Sporting News
According to Crossing Broad, head coach Barry Trotz turned down an offer that would have paid him over $7 million per season to become the Philadelphia Flyers head coach before buying a $1.5 million house in the Nashville suburb of Melrose.
Trotz paid $235,000 more than the house’s market value after the house was renovated two years ago.
For what it’s worth, Barry Trotz bought a $1.5 million house in Nashville today
— Michael Gallagher (@MGsports_) June 14, 2022
There has been talk that Trotz may rejoin the Nashville Predators, where he coached for 15 years before getting fired at the end of the 2014-15 season, in a management role. It should be noted that the home purchase does not confirm Trotz will be heading to Nashville this season, but may be a possible indication of where he is headed.
Friedman on TJMS: “There was a lot of talk about Trotz buying a house in Nashville yesterday… One of the things I did think is if he went into management right now, it might be with the Predators, they would be willing to say if you want to come into management, come join us”
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 15, 2022
“From what I understand, Barry Trotz has let it be known to teams that he’s not in a hurry to make his choice,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported. “He won’t make his decision until he’s sure it’s right for himself and his family.”
Friedman added on Wednesday that Trotz was never close to getting the Vegas Golden Knights’ head coaching job despite interviewing there. The Golden Knights named Bruce Cassidy head coach on Tuesday.
Trotz was considered the front runner in Philadelphia, who reportedly is closing in on signing John Tortorella to be their next bench boss once they talk about the contract details. An announcement is expected to be made on Thursday.
Friedman on TJMS: “I do think Trotz and Philly were very serious. I think the Flyers were very, very serious about Barry Trotz, I think he was their top choice and I think he decided to go in another direction, I think he told them yesterday he was going in another direction”.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 15, 2022
The Islanders fired Trotz on May 9 after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his four-year tenure behind the bench. The team finished with 84 points, 16 behind the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, after falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round in each of the previous two seasons.
This past season, the Islanders recorded averages of 2.79 goals-per-game (tied for 22nd), 2.82 goals-against per game (tied for seventh), a 22.1% power-play efficiency (12th), and a 84.2% penalty-killing rate (fourth) under Trotz.
The Islanders hired former Capitals’ assistant and Trotz’s right-hand man in Lane Lambert to lead the bench next season earlier this week.
Overall, Trotz has a 914-670-60-168 record in 23 seasons as an NHL head coach with the Islanders, Capitals, and Nashville Predators. He is 83-79 in the postseason.
In four seasons with the Capitals, Trotz went 205-89-34, good for a .677 point percentage. Trotz won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2015-16 and guided the Capitals to consecutive Presidents’ Trophies in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He led the Capitals to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2017-18 and three consecutive Metropolitan Division titles.
Trotz resigned as Capitals head coach after a previously agreed upon two-year contract extension worth $1.8 million per season kicked in but he wanted a raise while the organization wanted him to commit to the contract he already agreed to.
By Harrison Brown
Congratulations to you Mr. Trotz. You are the coach of coaches these days. Hopefully my nephew Cassidy is up there with you. You sure show patience and confidence in your business. I hope you the very best and I do look forward to your skills and talents on the ice to come.
A few analysts predicted he would take a year off and the longer it took to make a decision, the stronger they felt. Seems like they might be right. Or, he may be wanting to move from behind the bench to the front office. Change comes to all of us.
It’s not a good idea to take time out as a coach and expect to come back as a coach. Babcock is the latest to find that out. People are now saying his days of being an NHL coach are over, and thats because they’ve got used to the idea of the NHL having moved on from the likes of Babcock. If Trotz takes a sabbatical, I fully expect his comeback to be a front office job.
Babcock is not a coach in the NHL because he’s washed and a terrible human being. John Tortorella was out for more than a year and was just rehired. I’m sure if Trotz took a year off, he’d still be welcomed back. My gut tells me he takes a HC job and decides fairly soon, or takes time away and returns in the front office. I’d be shocked if he hasn’t announced something by June 25th.
Barry Trotz was smart NOT to take the dumpster fire that is the Philly HC job. The Flyers problems stem directly from their Front Office. Poor Trades; Poor Drafts; signing veteran players to mega deals on the downslope of their careers; Poor Cap Management. Its been that way for awhile; and as long as Fletcher is there; it isnt going to change anytime soon. IF i were the Flyers; id totally revamp my Scouting Dept.; and hire Coaches that actually know what theyre doing in evaluating Talent.
Nashville isn’t too far from Chicago.
Interesting that you label him as Head Coach Trotz when he is not a head coach. In fact you state later that he is considering a management position which makes the reference even more silly
They didn’t label him as Head Coach Trotz. They referred to him as”Former Capitals’ Head Coach Trotz.”
He was the former Capitals head coach, regardless of how long it’s been since he resigned.
There is a complete tool in every bunch. 🙄
Maybe the preds will make him the GM because poille doesn’t have a clue or will they fire Hynes as we know he did nothing on the East coast after 10 or 15 games just a thought.
I personally think it is time to bring New blood in the Coaching industry. The league needs new coaches who understand the game needs more offensive Minded coaches and not trap style or stay at home and wait for teams to make a bad entrances then go on deffence to ho hum and boring to watch. Fanes want high flying style offense like Colorado Av’s high paced style offenses who score more goals. 😎
I’m kinda behind this, Alec. The one I see as an easy head coach is Spencer Carbery. It’s just a matter of time for him, assuming teams can move on from the same names, as you mention.
Trotz numbers with the Caps are just sick. They should have just paid the man. GM was just cheap…..and look what that got them…..4 straight 1st round outs.
Seems everyone in DC doesn’t want to pay coach or players look at Nationals Commanders, and capitals.
his son goes to school in Nashville & he can “summer” there, during his off seasons while coaching the Winnipeg Jets.
It’s about time that Coach Trotz comes BACK HOME to Nashville, where he BELONGS and ALWAYS HAS!!! He should have never been forced to leave in the 1st place.
The Nashville Predators HAVE BEEN and ALWAYS WILL BE Coach Trotz’s TEAM!!! WELCOME HOME