Even with all the excitement of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the biggest story out of the NHL has been the New York Islanders’ and their decision to fire head coach Barry Trotz. His four-year stay on Long island included three playoff appearances, as well as two Jack Adams awards. This year was the only year the Islanders didn’t make the playoffs. They still finished with an over .500 record while spending the season overcoming setbacks (long road trip to begin season and COVID-19 issues).
While the move was surprising, it was welcome news for NHL fans whose team needs a new bench boss. Trotz has found success with the Nashville Predators, Washington Capital and Islanders. Any organization would welcome him with open arms, and a blank check.
The New Jersey Devils might be among those team. After all, Lindy Ruff hasn’t been fired yet, but the team hasn’t confirmed if he’s still on as head coach. If that job becomes available, the faithful of the black and red would love to have Trotz come to Newark, New Jersey.
No matter how much success Trotz has on his resume, is he a good fit for New Jersey? If there another free agent coach out there better to lead the likes of Jack Hughes and company? The answer to both those questions is worth considering.
Why They Should Hire Barry Trotz
The most impressive part of Trotz tenure was how he got the Islanders roster to play well above expectations. The Islanders’ roster was a bunch of “Garth Snow cast-offs”. Those cast-offs, along with some aging free agents signed by Lou Lamoriello, were one round short of the Stanley Cup final the past two seasons.
Trotz hallmark as a coach is his “defense-first” and “defense-by-committee” approach. Considering what he was able to get out of the “Garth Snow cast-offs,” imagine what type of effect he would have on strong defensive players such as Damon Severson, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Nathan Bastian?
Why They Shouldn’t Hire Barry Trotz
Reading that last part you realize the Islanders won their games through defense. They also won those games with low-scoring. That sounds very vintage Devils from the heyday of those cup years in the late 1990’s.
The style Trotz played with the Islanders might not fit the current Devils’ roster. By no means are they scoring at Tampa Bay Lightning or Edmonton Oilers pace, but they are building around the offensive production of Jack Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, and Jesper Bratt. Even Luke Hughes has been touted for his abilities as an offensive-defenseman. Trotz brand of hockey would fit a player such as Nico Hischier, however.
Add that with the increased speculation that Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau might become available. Vancouver finished the year with 3.00 goals-for per game, as opposed to the Islanders’ 2.79. The Devils’ best assets are their young offensive talent and Boudreau might be a better fit to have them keep improving. If Trotz came to New Jersey and played the same type of hockey he did with Islanders, it might stunt and limit what Bratt and Hughes can contribute.
Major “X’ Factor
In the official announcement, the Islanders said their assistant coaches are still under contract. They also added that there’s no guarantee they would be a part of the new coaching staff. That led to speculation that goaltending coach Mitch Korn would leave and follow Trotz wherever his next job takes him.
Korn – the Islanders’ goaltending coach – had a major part in the development of Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has been sold to fans as the Islanders “goaltender of the future,” and was one of the top goalies in the league last season.
There’s still a lot of questions in the Devils crease when it comes to next season. If Mackenzie Blackwood stays (which Dan Rosen seems to think he will), imagine what kind of influence Korn will have on him? The same goes for any young backup net-minder, in the case Jonathan Bernier does not return.