NHL Rumors: Barry Trotz turns down Jets, won’t coach this season
Anthony Scultore
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The Barry Trotz sweepstakes has ended with no winner– at least in the NHL.
First reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the most sought after head coach will not return to the bench this season and turned down the Winnipeg Jets offer.
“Winnipeg came after me in terms of wanting me to be part of the organization and I was really impressed with their commitment to winning, their commitment with [Kevin Cheveldayoff] as (general) manager. I know [assistant GM Craig Heisinger] and other people there. I’ve got relatives that work for the Jets and friends that work security there, people I went to school with. I know lots about the Jets. They’ve got a tremendous organization and a real family atmosphere. But I could not commit to any team; it wasn’t just Winnipeg, it was every team that I had talked to because I had to know I was 100 percent in.”
NHL.com
Barry Trotz won’t coach this season
Barry Trotz, 59, had been interviewing for head coaching jobs since he was fired by the New York Islanders. Almost from that moment on, reports persisted that he would not rush making any decisions.
In an exclusive with Tim Campbell at NHL.com, he provided some insight as to why.
“I’ve got some things personally that I’ve got to take care of, family-wise that I’ve got to take care of,” he explained. “If I’d said I’ll take the job, I think I would have done any team a little bit of a disservice and myself a disservice because to be a coach in the NHL, it is demanding and it requires your all. It just does, emotionally it just does, mentally it just does.”
Trotz made it clear that he wants to return to the bench but feels this is the time to take care of other matters. He did not provide a timetable for when he might return, but did acknowledge it could be awhile.
For his coaching career, Trotz has a record of 914-670-60-168 over the course of 23 years. He spent 15 of those with the Nashville Predators and 4 with both the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2017-2018.
Trotz back to where he started?
When news broke that the Nashville Predators were being sold, there was speculation that a return may be in the cards.
“What we’re told is that Barry Trotz, his intention is to make his decision on his NHL future around July 1st and he’s indicated that to a few teams,” Pierre LeBrun said on TSN’s Insider Trading. “But we’re also told that he has chatted with his old NHL club, the Nashville Predators, about a potential management role with the organization, which has always kind of been rumored about Barry Trotz.”
The Predators extended head coach John Hynes for two more years back in May, which could lineup with Trotz’ timetable.
Everyone loves a great story. A return to the place where it all started for Trotz with a championship ending? That’s something the fans in Nashville would love to see.
