Barry Trotz Resigns As Head Coach, Washington Capitals Start Search For His Replacement

By Jordan Long

Washington Capitals’ Head Coach Barry Trotz was hopeful a contract extension was going to be reached. His current deal was going to expire July 1^st. They were even starting to talk about a contract extension last week. Ultimately, Trotz saw the writing on the wall and decided to resign on Monday.

According to ESPN, Trotz said, “After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I am officially announcing my resignation as Head Coach of the Washington Capitals.”

This was a surprising move by Trotz. He had been the Capitals’ Head Coach for the past 4 years. His record in Washington was an outstanding 205-89-34. He guided the Capitals to the playoffs every single year.

The problem was the Capitals weren’t going to give him an extension at the start of last season. Upper management wanted to have improved results in the playoffs. The Capitals were knocked out in the 2^nd-round the last 3 years with Trotz. They finally broke through this year to win the Stanley Cup.

Looking at just that, Trotz deserved to stay in Washington. It is difficult to make the postseason in hockey. There are not many NHL coaches who take a team to the postseason 4 straight years, let alone past the 1^st-round in all those seasons. Most owners would have given their coaches a new contract. Washington didn’t feel like it was necessary to do so.

Trotz was smart to leave the Capitals. He saw how slow they were to reach a new agreement with him. If Trotz stayed, it may have only been a year or two added which wouldn’t have been enough.

Trotz should have another NHL job. He has 762 wins behind the bench, ranking him 5^th in NHL history. He knows how to coach a team to the playoffs and has a Stanley Cup on his resume. Teams will be calling him now that he is available.

For the Capitals it is a mistake to let Trotz leave. He turned around this team and made them a Stanley Cup threat every year. What more did they need to see? He did everything that was asked. Washington is going to regret this decision to let him walk away.