New York Islanders Daily: Barry Trotz Wants Players Playing To Their Strength

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz wants guys to play their game, and use their strengths to help the team. A nice change of pace.

Last year, the New York Islanders tried to mold their players into what they thought was the perfect player. It was most obvious with Josh Ho-Sang, an offensively gifted forward, who they tried to make into a defensive bottom six guy.

The days of expecting players to be someone they aren’t is over. Barry Trotz told Newsday that he just wants guys to be the best version of themselves:

"“We want them to use their talent and play to their strength and identity. If you’re a solid two-way guy, we want to see that. Every player can be difficult to play against and that’s what we’re going to try to identify as we go along. We’ve got to find out what the player is first. We think we know the players. But you don’t until you spend a lot of time with them on and off the ice.”"

Finally! A coach with his head screwed on straight. Barry Trotz gets it, not everyone is going to be a Josh Bailey or a Casey Cizikas. You need guys who will give you something offensively, who might not be as good in the defensive zone.

It’s okay to work on that aspect of their game to an extent, but to try to make them someone they aren’t is ludicrous. The biggest storyline for me this year is seeing how players respond to the new coach.

I’m interested to see who thrives under the new guard and who flounders.

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