After recusing himself from the coaching carousel last season, one of the best coaches in NHL history could return his name into consideration next season. Former Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz told NHL.com today that he’s not quite ready yet to return to coaching, but the idea of coaching an Original Six franchise would spark “intrigue” for the veteran coach.
Speaking on his timeline on whether or not Trotz would return to coaching, he gave the following explanation:
I think probably to get everything settled, I’m going to be into early December before I feel comfortable (that) I’ve got family stuff in control and after that, I’m probably going to have to take a little break, a week or two, to maybe go somewhere warm in the winter, and then after that…
Trotz nearly got his first experience coaching a Canadian team this season, presenting as a finalist for the Winnipeg Jets’ head coaching vacancy before ultimately deciding that he wouldn’t coach anywhere during 2022-23. The 60-year-old coach is enjoying some well-earned time with his family after 23 straight seasons behind an NHL bench.
In terms of Original Six teams that Trotz could head to, there’s really only one feasible option for next year: the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Boston Bruins are already off to a strong start under new head coach Jim Montgomery; the same could be said for the Chicago Blackhawks and Luke Richardson and the Detroit Red Wings and Derek Lalonde. It doesn’t seem like the New York Rangers or Montreal Canadiens would be willing to part ways with Gerard Gallant or Martin St. Louis after impressive coaching stints, either. Keefe is the longest-tenured out of all six, and after a continued pattern of playoff losses, a wholesale change could be on its way to Toronto this offseason.
Trotz to Leafs please and bring Mitch Korn with him since Samsonov is there who they are familiar with
is Trotz familiar with him? Samsonov didn’t play for Washington till Trotz was gone no?
@MoneyBallJustWorks—It seems likely that Trotz and Korn should have been familiar with Samsonov, as the Caps drafted him in 2015, so @lapcheung39 is probably right here. I would think they’d have had European/KHL scouts monitoring his progress and reporting back.
I think David Poile will be pleading with Trotz to come back to Nashville if the Preds continue to play like crap under John Hynes.
Wow he is only 60? Coaching must kick the crap out of a person.
You’d figure, right? I look at a guy like Bruce Boudreau. We’re talking a guy who’s pushing 70, and who isn’t precisely a physical specimen. He started his professional career in the *WHA*, for pity’s sake, and put in nearly twenty seasons as a minor league superstar. (Somewhat ironically, I happened to see his last game.) He played over a thousand professional games. He’s coached over a thousand games in the NHL. He coached over a thousand games in the minors. Countless practices, countless hours standing behind the bench.
And me, four years younger than he is, I have trouble walking up the stairs. And into the bargain, Boudreau came up in the era when, in Phil Esposito’s evocative terms, they trained in the offseason on steaks, beer and cigars, and spent the first few days of practice in the fall puking over the boards. How the hell Gabby isn’t dead right now I will never know.
@ghostofbaberuth—Coaching and off-ice family concerns, to be sure.
Betting on the Leafs to screw-things-up is damn near a lock – just a matter of time. Seriously, the Leafs know the playoffs are four rounds, right?
the leafs believe only golf has 4 rounds