“Nothing negative among this group of players” – Barry Trotz fired as New York Islanders coach


“Nothing negative among this group of players” – Barry Trotz fired as New York Islanders coach

Barry Trotz

Barry Trotz was fired as coach of the National Hockey League (NHL) team New York Islanders on Monday. The Islanders (37-35-10) earlier missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs berth for the first time since 2018, finishing 16 points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.

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Moreover, the 2022 season marked the first instance in four seasons by Trotz and general manager Lou Lamoriello where New York missed the postseason. The four-time Stanley Cup champions had reached the third round of the playoffs the previous two seasons, including a Game 7 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.

Those are not questions that I will answer as far as what I thought,” Lamoriello said, as quoted by NHL.com. “It’s obvious that I thought quite a bit to make this type of a decision. It will be a tremendous understatement to say that this was not an easy decision to make. Unfortunately, it is my role to make the best decisions for the organization going forward and I believe that this group of players needs a new voice and this in no way is anything negative on Barry Trotz, who like each one of you know is a tremendous human being.”

“We’re very appreciative of what Barry has done”

Barry Trotz
Barry Trotz

Trotz, who is a two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award voted as NHL coach of the year (2016 with Capitals, 2019 with Islanders), was 152-102-34, and 28-21 in the playoffs with the Islanders.

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Certainly, I think the record over these past four years speaks for itself as far as what Barry has done and we are very much appreciative of that,” Lamoriello added. “I certainly am, personally and professionally. As I said, these types of decisions are made for going forward, and I think that with this group we have, and they are on notice right now, the new voice is what’s necessary for us to have success in my opinion.”

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