The Caps position was that he was under contract and they were not going to renegotiate it. I have no problem with that people are bound by the contracts they sign. Caps did not have to let him out of his contract.
You’re correct 4Caps. Caps management did not “have to” do anything other than honor the terms of the contract, and yes, also did not “have to” accept Trotz’s resignation. But, accept his resignation, they did.
However, lets not pretend that somehow, management, didn’t have other REASONABLE options! It’s not like there is some honorable tradition, written in stone, that never allows renegotiation of NHL coaching contracts. It’s certainly been done, although not commonplace.
Coaching contract renegotiation, almost never occurs with a losing season. The coach is usually fired, either during, or at the end of the season. When you see renegotiation, it is following a winning season, where the coach has vastly improved the team!
Lets also not forget that Caps mgmt. did NOT make a contract offer to Trotz in his last year here. It would have been viewed, by anyone, as a normal and usual thing. And, in fact, was part of the summer media buzz.
WHY they didn’t, IMO, only Trotz, and Mgmt know. The point being, that we heard wisps of news that Trotz felt slighted by the organization, although there seemed to be great effort on both sides to stay quiet about it, and get on with the season. Good for all, I say, and we won the Cup!!
It is, singularly, some of us fans, and caps mgmt, in DC, that the terms “Presidents Trophy”, is considered to be using foul language!
We know why! Right or wrong, our multiple playoff failures, for SO long, led to this feeling! Trotz had been in Nashville for years and years. HE did not share this feeling, nor should’ve he!
Any other NHL city would have given their first born, for a coach possessing a resume with 2 Presidents Trophies, and a Stanley Cup, in his past 3 seasons with their team!
Trotz, along with the entire Caps organization, achieved the ultimate!!! Trotz put damn near two decades into coaching at the NHL level. He wanted 5 yrs, and GOOD PAY, to remain. IMHO, I believe he would have accepted a 3 or 4 yr deal, had he not been met with such rigidity about the contract, at the end of our stellar season!!
Yes, Mgmt held to the “letter of the law”, but I was one to disagree with their actions in this case! Maybe Trotz was too soured from not getting re-signed earlier? Maybe it was an ego battle between GMBM and Trotz? Who knows?
FYI, these comments, I make, have nothing to do with the current situations with Rierden, or Trotz right now. It’s too early for that stuff. I always say, 20-25 games, before any serious considerations about the team!
I do, however, generally respect your integrity for keeping contracts, 4Caps!
Rush