New York Islanders: Top 5 Moves by New Ownership

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 19: Head coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders poses with the Jack Adams Award presented to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success during the 2019 NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Spent on a Coach

For almost the entirety of the New York Islanders franchise they never spent on coaching. The Islanders would routinely look to bring a bargain by plundering the AHL ranks for some un-proven talent behind the bench.

The strategy rarely worked. Petter Laviolette is the one example that did work, with a .546 win percentage in 164 games with the Islanders between 2001 and 2003.

But when Lou came in, he let go of Doug Weight and immediately set out to find the best possible candidate. Conveniently, Barry Trotz became available.

Barry Trotz was just coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Washington Capitals, but the Caps weren’t willing to give him a substantial pay raise. So he walked. And Lou signed him.

You might be asking what that has to do with ownership?

They clearly had to sign off on Lou paying Barry the reported $20 million five-year deal. Something previous Islanders owners just weren’t willing to do.

And look how it worked out. Barry Trotz coached the Islanders to a 49-17-7 record, the second round of the playoffs, and a Jack Adams trophy. All with a group who, on paper, wasn’t supposed to do anything this season.

Coaching matters. The Islanders owners recognized that ponied up the money to get the best available coach.