The New York Islanders announced on Monday head coach Barry Trotz has been relieved of his duties after leading the club for the last four seasons.
The Islanders posted a mediocre 37-35-10 record this past season, falling short of reaching the playoffs.
It was a challenging campaign for the Trotz to navigate his players through.
“I believe this group of players needs a new voice,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said on a conference call with media. “This is not negative on Barry Trotz. He is a tremendous human being.”
With a preseason goal of winning the Stanley Cup, along with a win-now roster, expectations under Trotz were high.
The Islanders, however, struggled right out of the gate, per Ethan Sears of the New York Post.
“From the beginning, the Islanders’ season went drastically wrong. The team started off with a 13-game, five-week road trip, followed by a COVID-19 outbreak that rocked the team as it opened UBS Arena. They never fully recovered, and didn’t make more than a glancing impact on the playoff race, finishing with a mediocre 37-35-10 record. At one point amid a breakneck schedule during the second half to make up for their COVID-induced postponements, Trotz said the season was “mentally exhausting.”, Sears wrote.
Trotz is recognized around the NHL as one of the best coaches in the business with 914 career wins. He leaves the Islanders after posting a 152-102-34 regular-season record, including three postseason appearances in four seasons.
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Image: AP
