Just 11 days after leading the Washington Capitals to the first Stanley Cup championship in the franchise's 44-year history, Barry Trotz shocked the hockey world on Monday by announcing his resignation.
The 55-year-old coach was the Capitals' biggest unrestricted free agent of the off-season and despite earlier signs that he would be returning, the two sides were apparently unable to come to terms on a contract extension.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Trotz had a clause in his contract that called for a two-year extension and a $300,000 raise in salary if he won the Stanley Cup. But since he was making only $1.5 million, low by NHL standards, a $1.8 million salary wasn't going to be enough to keep him around.
While Mike Sullivan's contract with the Penguins isn't publicly known, Toronto is paying Mike Babcock $6.25 million and Chicago is paying Joel Quenneville $6 million, according to capfriendly.com.
Trotz has coached the Capitals the last four seasons, earning a record of 328-205-89. The team released a statement later Monday afternoon:
Statement from the Washington Capitals on Barry Trotzhttps://t.co/NF0xiEzce1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 18, 2018
Trotz also released his own statement:
Statement from Barry Trotz on his decision to move on from the Capitals. pic.twitter.com/zbdTSgHc0U
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 18, 2018
Trotz, who was the coach of the Nashville Predators from their inception in 1998 to 2014, is now free to coach any team. The Islanders and Capitals, both Metropolitan Division teams, are the only two clubs with current coaching vacancies.
Todd Reirden, who served on Dan Bylsma's coaching staff from 2011-14 in Pittsburgh, is believed to be the front runner. He has been Trotz's top assistant the last four years.
Trotz joins Scotty Bowman (twice), Mike Keenan and Bob Johnson as the only Stanley Cup-winning coach to not return the following season.
In 1979, Bowman left the Canadiens to become Sabres GM. In 2002, Bowman retired from the Red Wings. Keenan left the Rangers in 1994 to become the coach of the Blues. Johnson left the Penguins in August of 1991 after suffering a brain aneurysm and died Nov. 26 that year.