Capitals' Trotz Resigns in Revenge
Dude started taking the hint around mid-season.
That's when Barry Trotz was getting word about contract extensions being given to his assistants.
Washington Capitals management, however, wasn't offering him anything.
Odds are, then, he's been planning an exit scenario for some time. Having it coincide with the Caps claiming their first-ever Stanley Cup was, at the very least, a stroke of good fortune.
His mindset probably became even more firm as the club decided at regular season's end to put contract talks on hold until after the playoffs.
It doesn't take Sgt Joe Friday to deduce that Caps brass wanted to see whether or not Trotz -- after three years of trying -- could get the team past Pittsburgh at long last.
From that point forward, Trotz pushed all the right buttons, and his players did the rest.
Who knew that while they were in the midst of an epic ongoing celebration, Trotz was ready to -- as the old boys say in England -- turn the cat's ass to the sun.
Amidst the joy, Washington put a two-year contract extension on the table, but it was at the same level, only a $300,000 raise on his $1.5million salary. With established NHL head coaches now getting up to four times that, such as ...
- Toronto's Mike Babcock on $6.25million a year,
- Chicago's Joel Quenneville pulling down $6million a year, and
- Montréal's Claude Julien banking $5million a year ...
Trotz wanted market rates now that his name's on the Cup.
But they could not come to terms. Trotz is now a free agent, as WASH will grant permission to other teams who want to talk to him. 3/3
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 18, 2018
The way these things go anymore, back channels had to be buzzing between Trotz's people and other clubs who might be looking for coaches.
Think Islanders.
With OG Lou Lamoriello back in the Tri-State area, he'll be bringing Old School with him.
Trotz can do that.
Odds are he will do that.
So, sayonara, DC.
You can now add Barry Trotz’s name to this list. Considering how few men are on it, his decision to step away from the Capitals is stunning. pic.twitter.com/7JLNMhGWSN
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) June 18, 2018
The Isles have a new arena on the horizon. They'd definitely like to fill it, especially in the wake of their Brooklyn disaster.
And there's no doubt that, sooner rather than later, they'll be led by a coach with a Stanley Cup on his résumé.