By WFAN.com
Barry Trotz, the coach who led the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup earlier this month, is stepping down, fueling speculation that he could be headed to the Islanders.
"After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I am officially announcing my resignation as Head Coach of the Washington Capitals," Trotz said in a statement Monday.
"When I came to Washington four years ago we had one goal in mind and that was to bring the Stanley Cup to the nation's capital. We had an incredible run this season culminating with our players and staff achieving our goal and sharing the excitement with our fans."
The Capitals said in a statement they are "obviously disappointed by Barry's decision but would like to thank Barry for all his efforts the past four years and for helping bring the Stanley Cup to Washington. Barry is a man of high character and integrity and we are grateful for his leadership and for all that he has done for our franchise."
So now Trotz is a free agent, and the Islanders have the only other coaching vacancy in the NHL after new team president Lou Lamoriello fired Doug Weight two weeks ago.
While it's not clear whether there is serious mutual interest between the Islanders and Trotz, Islanders fans were already connecting the dots even when a Trotz-Washington divorce was still a rumor. Monday's announcement helped amplify wishful-thinking Isles fans.
Put your money where your mouth is #isles and hire Trotz. pic.twitter.com/iA2x9vGaHJ
— Eyes on Isles (@eyesonislesFS) June 18, 2018Dear Barry Trotz, you'll really like Long Island. You should go and get a job there. I believe there's an opening that might interest you #Isles
— Rob Blount (@RobBlount) June 18, 2018Lou, please work your magic. Make Barry Trotz the head coach of the New York Islanders. #isles
— Andrew Fok (@islandersallday)Please don't take this coming season off, Barry Trotz LOL. #Isles
— Michael Mannucci (@MikeMannucci91) June 18, 2018 https://twitter.com/islandersallday/status/1008789369031921664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" provider="twitter">June 18, 2018#isles barry Trotz resigned. pic.twitter.com/7WQ473cMJg
— Jeremy Weinstein Esquire (@upperdeckie) June 18, 2018In addition to winning the Stanely Cup, Trotz, 55, led Washington to the playoffs all four years he was there and won the Presidents' Trophy in 2016 and 2017. Trotz won the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL's top coach, following the 2015-16 season.
Trotz previously spent 15 years as the head coach of the Nashville Predators, whom he led to the playoffs seven times and to the conference semifinals twice. His career record is 762-568-60.
