For Barry Trotz, family comes first.
According to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, the 59-year-old coaching veteran of 1,812 NHL games has declined any head coaching roles for this upcoming season, including one from the Winnipeg Jets.
From the time he was fired by the New York Islanders after they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in his four-year tenure, Trotz has been linked to the Jets. A native of nearby Dauphin, Manitoba, it would’ve been a homecoming of sorts for the man with deep roots.
First interviewed in mid-May, Trotz played his hockey with the WHL’s Regina Pats before spending a year captaining the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings in 1982-83. After one year playing at the University of Manitoba, he transitioned into coaching. An assistant coach at the university in 1984-85, he joined the Kings as general manager and head coach, where he spent two years.
In 1987-88, he was the head coach at the university and also spent time as a scout for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, as well as a part-time scout for the Washington Capitals. The following year he transitioned into a full-time scouting role with the Caps, and his career took off from there.
Trotz has had a long and successful career in the NHL. He ranks third in wins behind only Scotty Bowman and Joel Quenneville while his best season behind the bench came in 2017-18 when he led the 49-26-7 Capitals to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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