For 23 consecutive seasons, Barry Trotz served as head coach in the NHL. During that long period, a Canadian of Ukrainian descent coached only three clubs, winning the Stanley Cup with one of them, Washington. Trotz can be called Alexander Ovechkin’s favorite coach because it was under his leadership that the Big Eight were truly great. Ovi didn’t need a championship title to be recognized, but with Barry it became a reality.

But now there is a possibility that Trotz’s impressive streak is coming to an end. The workaholic coach was fired from his tenure with the Islanders after the New York team missed the playoffs. They replaced him with Lane Lambert, who worked at Trotz’s headquarters, the “islanders”. Interestingly, according to the same scheme, they once decided to enter Washington when former assistant Toddy Reirden was appointed head coach after Barry left. True, it did not lead to anything good.

Proud of his Ukrainian roots, he allowed his son to go to Russia, made Ovechkin a champion. Coach Trotz fired in New York

“I understand Barry Trotz has made it clear to the teams that he is in no rush to make his choice. He will not make his decision until he is sure it is right for him and his family,” says Sportsnet Friedman.

But does Trotz’s slowness mean he’s going to take a hiatus and miss next season? Only Barry knows if he needs a reboot like this, but given the unprecedented hype rising around the 59-year-old coach, the downtime is hard to believe. This means that it will be the 24th and 25th season in a row in the world’s strongest league. But “Washington” is not among the teams interested in Trotz. Despite being eliminated in the first round, the Capitals will continue to be coached by Peter Laviolette.

Who watches the coach who made Ovechkin a champion?

It’s hard to say whether Philadelphia is the favorite in the Trotz fight, but various sources confirm that Trotz is a top pick for Philadelphia. It’s understandable. In the last few years, the “pilot” game has been a veritable hockey anarchy. The game in defense is terrible, against this background there are also goalkeepers. At the same time, something tells us that the same Carter Hart would play much more confidently in the Trotz system. And the hypothetical arrival of such a solid coach could help two Russian Flyers players. Frankly, Ivan Provorov turned a bit wrong in his development as the best defender. And his namesake Fedotov can follow in Sorokin’s footsteps if Trotz is appointed. Both moved abroad from CSKA, and the game model of the Islanders’ head coach helped Ilya adapt to the new league as painlessly as possible.

Jeff Blashill has been head of Detroit since 2015. However, the Red Wings made the playoffs only once in seven years, in the first year of successor Mike Babcock. After an unsuccessful regular season, club management decided not to renew the contract with a specialist who was unable to rebuild the once champion team. The fact that Red Wings general manager is Steve Yzerman gives hope that Trotz’s managerial wisdom will not go to waste. But there is no doubt that Detroit will need a little more time to get back to the elite team numbers. It’s even run by old Barry. Is the coach who once built Nashville brick by brick himself ready for long and painstaking work?

If Detroit is a controversial project, but also has a thick layer of good youth, Dallas seems to be in decline. The team that most recently played in the Stanley Cup Finals is moving further and further away from the circle of contenders for the championship. Radulov has aged, the captain of the Benn team is not getting younger, the situation of the goalkeepers is uncertain. Rick Bowness’ resignation is understandable. And not only because of the results, but also because initially the eternal assistant did not look like a coach for many years. There will be no “stars” and will not seek a successor within headquarters – all Bowness’s aides were also dismissed.

The worst result in the club’s short history in Las Vegas was unforgivable for Peter Debour. Under him, Vegas failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time. After Knights played in the 2018 CS final, any other result is perceived as a step back. Then only “Washington” Trotz played against “Vegas” in the decisive series of the season. But that doesn’t just tie Barry and the rebuilding club together. The Golden Knights have been a team that has preached defensive power hockey since its inception. In other words, if Trotz emerges, a global restructuring is not expected. The composition of the team is not only suitable for Barry, but also capable of giving the casino city another final.

The Jets started this season with Paul Maurice, but resigned in December 2021. Until the end of the championship, Dave Lowry served as head coach. Winnipeg missed the playoffs this season and finished sixth in the Central Division. The appointment of the best Canadian coach for the Canadian club will be a real breakthrough. As for Trotz, this is a unique opportunity to work from home. Barry’s grandfather moved to Dauphine, Canada during World War I. It is 250 kilometers from Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba. The Islanders’ former head coach grew up there. Why isn’t it a good story?