The Washington Capitals are in the Stanley Cup Final for only the second time in their 43 year history with a coach that is near and dear to the hearts of Pred Nation. Caps head coach Barry Trotz was the first head coach of the Nashville Predators, spending 15 seasons in the position, setting a record for the longest unbroken tenure as a head coach of an expansion team, eclipsing Terry Crisp’s record with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Those are just facts and figures. More important that those is the legacy he left in Nashville, for not only is Barry Trotz an excellent hockey coach, he is a better man.
In the Predators first season, my middle son was playing hockey as a squirt. We were adjusting to the early morning practices and developing the camaraderie among the parents that happens when your kids play together. It was such a “Nashville” team as we had a few children of country music stars playing on the team as well as Barry Trotz’s son Tyson.
I so clearly remember a team party early on in the season as a local pizza joint… all of the kids raising hell and the parents doing their best to corral a rowdy bunch of 8 year old hockey players. One of those parents was Barry. As a lifelong hockey fan, I was a bit in awe… you just don’t get the opportunity to sit down and chat with an NHL head coach in that kind of casual environment.
If you didn’t know, you would never guess that the hockey dad casually chatting with the parents was an NHL head coach.
My dad used to say that you can take a measure of a man by looking at his family. The Trotz family is one of the most loving, caring families you will ever see. Barry and Kim have done an amazing job raising four great kids. His contributions to the community have been incredible, from his work at Mt Friends House to his championing of Best Buddies.
He’s doing the same thing with the Capitals, making the community better and helping the team live up to its’ potential… finally.
With a little time, you can see that the move to replace Barry, painful as it was… was for the best for both parties. Nashville has seen great success with Peter Laviolette and now Washington gets to the Final with a chance to lift the Cup with Barry Trotz behind the bench.
I will be rooting like hell for the Caps… I want to see a nice guy finish first.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
The Final is set… one of the more improbable matchups in Cup Final history
Eastern Conference Final
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals – WSH wins 4-3
Western Conference Final
Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Vegas wins 4-1
The Stanley Cup Final
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Washington Capitals – Game One is Monday in Las Vegas
Here is the complete Stanley Cup Final schedule
Mon. 5/28 - 7 pm - Capitals @ Golden Knights | NBC
Wed. 5/30 – 7 pm - Capitals @ Golden Knights | NBCSN
Sat. 6/2 - 7 pm - Golden Knights @ Capitals | NBCSN
Mon. 6/4 - 7 pm - Golden Knights @ Capitals | NBC
*Thu. 6/7 - 7 pm - Capitals @ Golden Knights | NBC
*Sun. 6/10 - 7 pm - Golden Knights @ Capitals | NBC
*Wed. 6/13 - 8 pm - Capitals @ Golden Knights | NBC
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Last night’s SlapShot Radio featuring the Voice of the Vegas Golden Knights Dave Goucher and we talk Taveres to Nashville rumors with Eklund.
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Random Notes
- Congratulations to Paul Fenton… the former Predators AGM is now the general manager of the Minnesota Wild. A good man who has put in his time. Congrats and good luck Paul!
- Paul Fenton’s move to MInny has driven some moves in the Nashville front office. Current Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty and current Director of Hockey Operations Brian Poile have been promoted to Assistant General Manager. Current Director of Player Development Scott Nichol has been promoted to General Manager of the Milwaukee Admirals.
- Braden Holtby had back-to-back shutouts to get the Caps to the Final.
- It was a highly physical team that took the Caps to the Final… they will need it to compete with Vegas
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SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.
We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game, however, this Wednesday we will be on an hour earlier as a pregame to game two of the Stanley Cup Final which the Game is carrying live.
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