Former Islanders bench boss announces retirement

A former New York Islanders bench boss made waves around the NHL on Monday. Current Nashville Predators GM and former Isles coach Barry Trotz announced his retirement. The 63-year-old will be stepping down from his current position at the end of the season.

He will remain onboard for the time being, as the Predators search for his successor.

Islanders fans got to know Trotz very well during his tenure in Long Island. Trotz coached 288 regular-season games, amassing a 152-102-34 record in that span. The club made the playoffs in three of its four seasons at the helm.

However, the Islanders just couldn’t get over the hump during Trotz’s time with the Islanders. The Isles lost back-to-back Eastern Conference Final appearances to the Tampa Bay Lightning during the COVID-era playoffs.

Trotz won the 2019 Jack Adams Award after leading the Isles to a 48-27-7 mark that season. Unfortunately, the Islanders were swept out of the second round in the 2019 postseason at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Things took a tough turn for Trotz after the Isles missed the playoffs during the 2021-22 season. The tenured bench boss left the season, taking on the GM role in Nashville following David Poile’s retirement.

Unfortunately for Trotz, he was unable to replicate the success he had in Long Island and Washington in Nashville. While the Predators had a successful first season under his tutelage, last season was a disaster. Predators fans had high hopes after the explosive 2024 offseason that saw Nashville sign Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

The Preds are currently four points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. However, the team seems on the verge of selling off key pieces.

Trotz signaled during his press conference on Monday that it was time to step away from the game.

“I've been in pro sports in some shape or form probably for 40 years now, and there comes a time when you realize that a lot of the stuff you've done and you've been immersed, you can't be sometimes present in both places,” Trotz said. “You can't be present in your job and you can't be present at home. I just felt there's an end date.”

Trotz also mentioned that he wants to dedicate more time to his family.

“There's a responsibility that I feel to my family. I think you see your kids grow up, I'm very proud of my kids. Now they're getting married, [I’ve] got grandkids now. You're missing a lot of the dates. In this business, our kids very seldom have their birthdays on their birthdays; seldom am I present even at their birthdays sometimes.”

Trotz will likely head to the Hall of Fame at some point down the line. The Dauphin, Manitoba native is fifth in all-time wins with 914 and games coached with 1,812. He also won the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.