Islanders hire Barry Trotz as coach fresh off winning Stanley Cup

<p>The New York Islanders have hired Barry Trotz as their new head coach.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 21, 2018, 6:47 PM

Updated 2,155 days ago

Share:

The New York Islanders have hired Barry Trotz as their new head coach.
  
President of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello announced the move Thursday at the NHL draft, two weeks after Trotz won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals and three days after he resigned from that job. Trotz reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth double what he would have made annually on a shorter contract with the Capitals.
  
Hiring Trotz fresh off his Stanley Cup victory is another statement to face-of-the-franchise center John Tavares, who can become a free agent July 1. Finding a permanent arena at Belmont Park and ownership hiring three-time Cup-winning Lamoriello were seen as building blocks to trying to re-sign Tavares.
  
In the past 40 years, Trotz is just the fifth coach not to return to a Stanley Cup-winner and the first since Scotty Bowman retired after winning with Detroit in 2002. Mike Keenan in 1994 was the last coach to leave a Cup champion in a contract dispute when he did not return to the New York Rangers.
  
Trotz has the fifth-most wins of any coach in NHL history and led Washington to back-to-back Presidents' Trophy seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Despite that, the Capitals let the 55-year-old go into the final year of his contract without an extension, in large part because he had never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
  
Under Trotz, the Capitals won their first title in franchise history this season, which triggered a clause in his contract that gave him a $300,000 raise to about $2 million for the next two seasons. General manager Brian MacLellan said a long-term contract and Trotz's representative wanting to have him paid among the top four or five coaches in the NHL were sticking points, and Trotz asked for and was given his resignation Monday.
  
The Islanders put Trotz in that stratosphere, behind Toronto's Mike Babcock, Chicago's Joel Quenneville and Montreal's Claude Julien but ahead of most of the rest of the league.


More from News 12
Opening statements set to kick off second criminal trial for Sen. Bob Menendez

Opening statements set to kick off second criminal trial for Sen. Bob Menendez

2:08
STORM WATCH: Gloomy today in New Jersey, light rain showers continue into Thursday

STORM WATCH: Gloomy today in New Jersey, light rain showers continue into Thursday

1:39
Police: 22-year-old man on electric scooter killed in crash on Route 1 in Edison

Police: 22-year-old man on electric scooter killed in crash on Route 1 in Edison

0:37
NJ Transit announces refund policy for unused one-way tickets

NJ Transit announces refund policy for unused one-way tickets

Traffic moving on George Washington Bridge into NYC following earlier delays due to police activity

Traffic moving on George Washington Bridge into NYC following earlier delays due to police activity

1:53
Busy East Rutherford intersection to undergo improvements ahead of 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium

Busy East Rutherford intersection to undergo improvements ahead of 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium

0:26
NFL schedule: Aaron Rodgers and New York Jets will face Minnesota Vikings in London on Oct. 6

NFL schedule: Aaron Rodgers and New York Jets will face Minnesota Vikings in London on Oct. 6

0:23
New Jersey bill proposes 16 and 17-year-old’s vote in local school board elections

New Jersey bill proposes 16 and 17-year-old’s vote in local school board elections

0:24
Atlantic City police officer arrests same suspect twice for same crime within 8 hours

Atlantic City police officer arrests same suspect twice for same crime within 8 hours

0:20
Stew Leonard’s opening new location in Clifton

Stew Leonard’s opening new location in Clifton

0:31
Mothers of resigned Miss USA & Miss Teen USA from New Jersey speak out

Mothers of resigned Miss USA & Miss Teen USA from New Jersey speak out

0:18
Aldi recalls 4 types of cream cheese over potential salmonella risk

Aldi recalls 4 types of cream cheese over potential salmonella risk

0:25
Knicks beat Pacers 121-91 to move a win away from conference finals

Knicks beat Pacers 121-91 to move a win away from conference finals

1:48
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's Roasted Pork Broccoli Rabe and Sharp Provolone Hero

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's Roasted Pork Broccoli Rabe and Sharp Provolone Hero

3:18
Guide: The importance of good sleep and how to get it

Guide: The importance of good sleep and how to get it

2:27
Students escape injury after school bus bursts into flames in Sayreville

Students escape injury after school bus bursts into flames in Sayreville

0:39
Jersey Proud: Phillipsburg boy completes treatment for brain cancer

Jersey Proud: Phillipsburg boy completes treatment for brain cancer

2:16
East Brunswick School District to cut 51 staff positions amid state budget cuts

East Brunswick School District to cut 51 staff positions amid state budget cuts

2:05
Prosecutor: Union Beach soccer coach accused of touching players, sending graphic images to minors

Prosecutor: Union Beach soccer coach accused of touching players, sending graphic images to minors

0:58
Nutley residents complain of an increase in rat sightings in town

Nutley residents complain of an increase in rat sightings in town