There was one head coaching vacancy in the NHL when Barry Trotz decided to walk away from the Washington Capitals.
On Wednesday, the Islanders announced that Trotz has taken the position.
Islanders News: President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced today that the team has hired Barry Trotz as Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/hf2uZIhy5z
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 21, 2018Reports began surfacing hours earlier indicating the Islanders were closing in on a deal with the former Capitals head coach.
Sources say Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders are closing in on an agreement for Trotz to be the Isles next head coach.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 21, 2018Hearing Barry Trotz closing in with NYI.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 21, 2018Eleven days after winning the Stanley Cup, Trotz and the Capitals had reached an impasse over length of term and salary in negotiations for a new contract.
Trotz had been making $1.5 million per year over his four seasons in Washington, and a reported kicker in his contract – for winning the Stanley Cup – triggered a $300,000 annual bonus along with a two-year extension, an additional $600,000 in total.
But Trotz wanted to be paid more like the league's top coaches, and reportedly sought $25 million over five years, a figure the Caps deemed too rich to retain their championship-caliber coach, so he walked.
Islanders team president Lou Lamoriello appeared willing to meet Trotz closer to his request, as he was reportedly ready to offer upwards of $4 million annually over five years. So Trotz stands to earn at least $2.2 million more in annual salary over what the Caps were willing to pay, and over a longer term.
No one is expecting Lou Lamoriello to confirm anything...but word here in DAL is a five-year deal for Trotz at least $4M per year.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 21, 2018Announcement on Barry Trotz becoming #Isles head coach could be made by tonight.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) June 21, 2018Further to what @FriedgeHNIC is saying here, I'm told the deal with the Isles will pay more than $4 million per season for Trotz. A reminder that the extension in Washington would have paid $1.8 million per season. https://t.co/aFu8zqrUhR
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 21, 2018Amid their coaching search, the Isles are making a hard push to resign center John Tavares, which would greatly improve Trotz's chances for success.
Can confirm reports on Barry Trotz becoming Isles coach.Likely to happen today
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) June 21, 2018Also, not a done deal, and still a fluid situation, but sounds like Isles may have good news on John Tavares as well.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) June 21, 2018In the end, the Isles appear willing to offer Trotz at least $16.4 million more than the Caps.
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