Trotz resigned

[justwincaps]

I'm going to take the more optimistic route on this and assume that GMBM thinks Rierden is the guy and can replace Trotz without missing a step.  If management really believed Trotz was irreplaceable, I can't see them balking at paying him what NYI has offered so I have a hard time believing this is about saving a few bucks [well, a few bucks to those guys ... seriously what's a couple of million dollars to Leonsis?].

If they bring in a complete outsider to coach the team, all that goes out the window.  I think they have the upmost confidence in Rierden [maybe rightfully so, maybe not, after all he hasn't been a HC] and thought the greater risk was losing Rierden, not Trotz.  The few comments I've heard from players have been positive regarding Rierden.

[RavenCp]

I'm going to take the more optimistic route on this and assume that GMBM thinks Rierden is the guy and can replace Trotz without missing a step.  If management really believed Trotz was irreplaceable, I can't see them balking at paying him what NYI has offered so I have a hard time believing this is about saving a few bucks [well, a few bucks to those guys ... seriously what's a couple of million dollars to Leonsis?].

If they bring in a complete outsider to coach the team, all that goes out the window.  I think they have the upmost confidence in Rierden [maybe rightfully so, maybe not, after all he hasn't been a HC] and thought the greater risk was losing Rierden, not Trotz.  The few comments I've heard from players have been positive regarding Rierden.

This is how I see it, too. When we can how everyone plays, coaching is more opaque. We see results and usually all credits go to Head Coach. GM definitely has more visibility on such things. Blocking from interviews Rierden just confirmed the value of this assistant coach. D greatly excelled also a very good sign. Would he be a great Head Coach? I hope so, although there is always risk involved. Even with Trotz.       

[newtoCapsparty]

Well, a bit more deflated after details emerge about Trotz, the negotiation with the Caps, his new job in NY. 
It seems like the Caps bailed on him pre-last season--which must have made the season difficult for Trotz right out of the gate.  Despite ups and downs, the team was certainly better in the regular season than anyone expected it would be--isn't that worth something?  And the Stanley Cup?  Weren't these two factors--actual successful performance--worth renegotiating his extension in June?  Seems to me, these two factors weigh in favor of giving Trotz (in June) more years and more money than the Caps decided he was worth back in September. 


On the other hand, if the Caps were on the verge of firing him at points during the season, management must believe that the Caps success is not connected to Trotz (and more connected to Reirden?).  I suppose time will tell--if the Islanders do well this year, well, then I guess management misread the situation entirely.  The front office will look very badly if this turns out to be the case.  And...in the end, for me, breaking up a Cup-winning team and its' coach days after the successful season ends just doesn't feel good.  (But I do understand that feelings shouldn't drive this situation.)

Sorry for font problems!  Don't know how this happened this time.

Sorry for my font problems...don't know how that happened. 

[4 Caps]

I'm going to take the more optimistic route on this and assume that GMBM thinks Rierden is the guy and can replace Trotz without missing a step.  If management really believed Trotz was irreplaceable, I can't see them balking at paying him what NYI has offered so I have a hard time believing this is about saving a few bucks [well, a few bucks to those guys ... seriously what's a couple of million dollars to Leonsis?].

If they bring in a complete outsider to coach the team, all that goes out the window.  I think they have the upmost confidence in Rierden [maybe rightfully so, maybe not, after all he hasn't been a HC] and thought the greater risk was losing Rierden, not Trotz.  The few comments I've heard from players have been positiv
e regarding Rierden.

I think this is right on the mark.  I don’t think it was about money or term, I believe BMac was not sold on Trotz and if you read the articles Trotz was close to being fired a couple of times during the season. Reirden has been clearly the coach in waiting and I really think the transistion will be seemless.  Reirden knows the players and knows the system that was effective in the playoffs.  I may be completely wrong but I don’t think we will miss Trotz next season.  If we are going to win the Cup again next season it is more important that we re-sign Carlson than it is keeping Trotz. 

[OldHat]

Fukin Caps couldn't come off 5 years for $20 mil. Anyone here still doubt what DC say about management??

The more I think about it the more I'm torn.  Trotz did have a Cup winning clause in his contract.  An extension and a raise.  So he did want to redo what he had already agreed to.  That's a bit of a sticking point for me.

[chas]

The more I think about it the more I'm torn.  Trotz did have a Cup winning clause in his contract.  An extension and a raise.  So he did want to redo what he had already agreed to.  That's a bit of a sticking point for me.

Look at the original terms.  A $300,000 kicker for winning the Cup?  That seems ridiculously low.  Trotz must have had a terrible agent.

[chas]

So, what is the first Stanley Cup in an organizations 44 year history worth?  And with a team admittedly not as talented in years past?  So, it really comes down to $10M.  Basically the difference in the amount he signed for with the Islanders and what they wanted to give him.  Term.....you can fire him and pay him, but no, let’s go with a new coach with no NHL head coaching experience.  We have been there and done that and no results.  How many chances at the Stanley Cup did we miss during the OV era because of Ted’s arrogance believing experienced coaching doesn’t matter.

I remember some posts (on another board of course) that Trotz wasn't going to get us the Cup because he never had won a Cup.  So, it feels like magical thinking that you need head coaching experience to be a head coach.  Where do these head coaches come from?  Granted, we have a history of promoting idiots to head coach but that mostly falls to GMGM IMHO.  Let's see if GMBM has a better handle on what makes a good coach.


You have to wonder who the players were listening to all season if they knew that Trotz was basically a lame duck (to borrow from politics).  Was this run inspired by the team in an attempt to help prove the worth of Trotz?  Or did Trotz just checkout at the start of the playoffs and turn control over to Rierden?  All will be revealed next season...

[DC_1908]

I remember some posts (on another board of course) that Trotz wasn't going to get us the Cup because he never had won a Cup.  So, it feels like magical thinking that you need head coaching experience to be a head coach.  Where do these head coaches come from?  Granted, we have a history of promoting idiots to head coach but that mostly falls to GMGM IMHO.  Let's see if GMBM has a better handle on what makes a good coach.


You have to wonder who the players were listening to all season if they knew that Trotz was basically a lame duck (to borrow from politics).  Was this run inspired by the team in an attempt to help prove the worth of Trotz?  Or did Trotz just checkout at the start of the playoffs and turn control over to Rierden?  All will be revealed next season...

I wouldn’t put that all on GMGM, he didn’t have total control of that.   Ted and Monumental  does.

[Maacoshark]

Fukin Caps couldn't come off 5 years for $20 mil. Anyone here still doubt what DC say about management??

   I've always thought our biggest problems were with management. Have to say I'm disappointed to see Trotz gone. Hope he succeeds with his new team.

[Second Sucks]

This is how I see it, too. When we can how everyone plays, coaching is more opaque. We see results and usually all credits go to Head Coach. GM definitely has more visibility on such things. Blocking from interviews Rierden just confirmed the value of this assistant coach. D greatly excelled also a very good sign. Would he be a great Head Coach? I hope so, although there is always risk involved. Even with Trotz.     

Are you really saying coaching doesn’t matter...that anyone can do it?  Because it has only took us 44 years to win the Cup.  Do I think Trotz is the only answer...no, but why do we always look at rookies for coaches...simple...they are cheap.  You put your trust in a GM who gave Orpik and Oshie those terrible contracts and you put your faith in him?  Well good luck to us.

[BlackIce]

Are you really saying coaching doesn’t matter...that anyone can do it?  Because it has only took us 44 years to win the Cup.  Do I think Trotz is the only answer...no, but why do we always look at rookies for coaches...simple...they are cheap.  You put your trust in a GM who gave Orpik and Oshie those terrible contracts and you put your faith in him?  Well good luck to us.

We'll see how Oshie plays out over the next several years.  Maybe he's a player who will age well.  Maybe he isn't.


I'm sure I'm in a minority here, but in retrospect I don't think Orpik's contract was a terrible one.  Was he overpaid?  Yes, but UFA's generally are.  Orpik was brought in for a specific purpose -- to provide a shutdown defenseman with snarl and commitment.  THAT he did.  I don't know if anyone here realizes what a stupendous season Orpik had his first year here to fulfill that purpose.  In his first season here his hits + blocks -- the counting stats of a tough defenseman -- totaled over 500, in an era when the NHL was transitioning to the current speed game.  No other defenseman in the league was within 100 of him.  The Caps brought him in to set an example, and that is exactly what he did.  He was hurt for half of his second year -- it happens.  Even this year, he was a competent 3rd pairing/PK defenseman, which is probably all you can ask at his age in an era where he is more and more of a dinosaur.  And he was traded out of the last year of that contract.  So my assessment is that the Caps got at least decent value, if not totally fair value, out of that contract.


As for the coaching situation, I've moved on from Trotz.  Everything I've heard from GMBM is that his main concern with Trotz is that he didn't think he had a shelf life of 5 more years here, which is the term Trotz wanted.  That is an internal assessment that I have no way of knowing how to judge.  He certainly seemed to go out on good terms with the team -- of course, a Stanley Cup will do that!!  It seems strange for me on the surface to think that Trotz's mojo would wear off in a couple more years, but that's what the party line seems to be.  As for who takes his place, we've seen both rookie and experienced coaches do well in the league.  If Rierden is the man, so be it.  I'm more concerned that the new coach be the best fit for the nature of the team as it is now and is able to work with both younger and older players effectively.  Let's see who the 2018/2019 coaching STAFF is, too.  I think the total coaching staff may be a little more important in the NHL than it is in the other major sports (OK, maybe not football.)

[KitFisto]

I think Oshie will age well. He's not overly fast so losing a step won't hurt his game. I doubt his skill will just deteriorate much. He has good hockey sense and isn't going to lose that. He's the type of player who can probably play until close to 40 and still be productive IMO......baring serious injuries of course.

[alta]

Maybe we can have a head coach now that will tell the zebras when they are are wrong instead of saying thank you may I have another, this is pretty much my only issue with Trotz. The coach doesn't need to be an ass to tell the zebras they were wrong, but he does need to tell them

[Maacoshark]

Maybe we can have a head coach now that will tell the zebras when they are are wrong instead of saying thank you may I have another, this is pretty much my only issue with Trotz. The coach doesn't need to be an ass to tell the zebras they were wrong, but he does need to tell them

     I know from experience that telling the refs that they are wrong usually doesnt benefit you.

[OldHat]

Look at the original terms.  A $300,000 kicker for winning the Cup?  That seems ridiculously low.  Trotz must have had a terrible agent.

May be, but he signed the contract.  That should mean something.


And it's pretty sick that the state of the world is that one could scoff at a 300k raise.

[Surreylily]

Gutted.