I havent visited or posted here in a while. But this move has me completely demoralized and perplexed. I can’t think of a good reason to dismiss Barry Trotz.
I am no insider. I have no inside connections. I know nothing other than what gets reported or tweeted. So I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. But this decision reeks of a contract squabble. I can’t think of any other plausible basis for firing (not mutually parting ways with) the second best coach in Isles history, one who turned this franchise around, got it to two conference finals, won a Jack Adams award.
It was odd when Trotz left Washington. He had just won a cup, yet they didn’t keep him. Now, he does great work with the isles for 4 yrs and just as his deal is entering the last season, the isles move on. It’s just weird.
I am a “in Lou I trust” guy. But this decision really has me questioning that. There has to be more to it than the team Missing the playoffs this year. Did Barzal not want to play for Trotz any longer? Was Wahlstrom’s stagnant growth a factor? I mean, while Bellows, Wahlstrom and Salo did not develop well, Sorokin and Dobson developed unbelievably well. Is Beauvillier not progressing a factor here? Do they want to promote Lane Lambert? It could be a million things.
One thing is for sure: Lou better nail the next coaching hire or it will be Lou going out the door next. The next coach is going to be critical. Will it be Lambert, to keep the style of play consistent and conducive to the roster? Will it be a coach with a completely different style that will not be conducive to this roster, meaning big changes are coming? I hope Lou gets it right…
I havent visited or posted here in a while. But this move has me completely demoralized and perplexed. I can’t think of a good reason to dismiss Barry Trotz.
I am no insider. I have no inside connections. I know nothing other than what gets reported or tweeted. So I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. But this decision reeks of a contract squabble. I can’t think of any other plausible basis for firing (not mutually parting ways with) the second best coach in Isles history, one who turned this franchise around, got it to two conference finals, won a Jack Adams award.
It was odd when Trotz left Washington. He had just won a cup, yet they didn’t keep him. Now, he does great work with the isles for 4 yrs and just as his deal is entering the last season, the isles move on. It’s just weird.
I am a “in Lou I trust” guy. But this decision really has me questioning that. There has to be more to it than the team Missing the playoffs this year. Did Barzal not want to play for Trotz any longer? Was Wahlstrom’s stagnant growth a factor? I mean, while Bellows, Wahlstrom and Salo did not develop well, Sorokin and Dobson developed unbelievably well. Is Beauvillier not progressing a factor here? Do they want to promote Lane Lambert? It could be a million things.
One thing is for sure: Lou better nail the next coaching hire or it will be Lou going out the door next. The next coach is going to be critical. Will it be Lambert, to keep the style of play consistent and conducive to the roster? Will it be a coach with a completely different style that will not be conducive to this roster, meaning big changes are coming? I hope Lou gets it right… - Jethro09
The guy is so old I doubt it’s a concern of his. He maybe has another year two tops left in him.
Location: Snow's World (I just live in it), NY Joined: 06.21.2008
May 9 @ 12:20 PM ET
There has to be more to this. Has to be. Maybe they talked extension because of the potential lame duck status. Maybe guys like Barzal voiced an opinion. Maybe Lou didn’t like the treatment of Wahlstrom. It’s all speculation.
When it boils down to it, it makes no sense to me at all.
The guy is so old I doubt it’s a concern of his. He maybe has another year two tops left in him. - Cptmjl
Probably true but I can’t see Lou being okay with going out with a thud. I think he has some pride in him and doesn’t want to see this team he helped turn around slide back into a mess
Probably true but I can’t see Lou being okay with going out with a thud. I think he has some pride in him and doesn’t want to see this team he helped turn around slide back into a mess - Jethro09
Lou’s son is the heir apparent most likely imo. With that said lameriello does stuff like this. He wasn’t happy with some what trotz did and saw the team stopped listening. That’s it. I don’t think there’s some other secret thing going on imo. I don’t agree with it but whatever. This is Lameriello.
There has to be more to this. Has to be. Maybe they talked extension because of the potential lame duck status. Maybe guys like Barzal voiced an opinion. Maybe Lou didn’t like the treatment of Wahlstrom. It’s all speculation.
When it boils down to it, it makes no sense to me at all. - potvin05
Agreed. It’s right up there with Leo Komarov being our first line winger.
I think we hire one of the Twitter NHL Coaches to coach the team. Wahlstrom gets 60 goals, Barzal 100 + points and the Islanders come last in the league.
Location: Coming to a jail near you Joined: 10.14.2014
May 9 @ 12:40 PM ET
I think we hire one of the Twitter NHL Coaches to coach the team. Wahlstrom gets 60 goals, Barzal 100 + points and the Islanders come last in the league. - nyisles7
Isn't that the goal next season? The first overall is supposed to be a doozy.
I think we hire one of the Twitter NHL Coaches to coach the team. Wahlstrom gets 60 goals, Barzal 100 + points and the Islanders come last in the league. - nyisles7
I think the system Trotz puts in place works for a limited time. They had a chance to win and almost did. After a while it burns out players and they lose interest. We do not have elite scoring but we will score more under a freestyle system that does not demand as much defensively out of our fowards. Will we give up more goals? absolutely, you must have a elite goaltender and above average defense to counterbalance, both of which we have. With that being said, I honestly have no idea what they are thinking at the top, but they must sense that they cant go further the way things are set up now.
I think the system Trotz puts in place works for a limited time. They had a chance to win and almost did. After a while it burns out players and they lose interest. We do not have elite scoring but we will score more under a freestyle system that does not demand as much defensively out of our fowards. Will we give up more goals? absolutely, you must have a elite goaltender and above average defense to counterbalance, both of which we have. With that being said, I honestly have no idea what they are thinking at the top, but they must sense that they cant go further the way things are set up now. - LItransplant44
I don't see the point in firing him now, even if the team wanted to go in a different direction systems-wise. They could have let him coach through the last year of his contract and declined to re-sign him. Now they're compounding what's already likely to be a tumultuous offseason by adding in a coaching search.
Even in a failure of a season, they allowed the 7th fewest goals in the league. Making some semi-significant roster changes to add some more offense/puck-moving capability would have almost certainly resulted in better offensive output and better overall success next season.
