Islanders have reunion with ex-coach and now Predators GM Barry Trotz
NASHVILLE, Tenn. The scene outside the Islanders dressing room Saturday morning looked a little bit like a family reunion centered around one person.
That would be Barry Trotz, who spent time catching up with nearly everyone he saw from the coaching staff to front office members to team staffers and the TV crew. Saturdays 3-1 loss marked the first time the Islanders have faced the Predators since Trotz the teams coach from 2018-22 started as Nashvilles general manager this summer.
So everyone involved was looking forward to the date.
Theres lots of friendships, Trotz said. You go to teams, obviously me and Islanders coach Lane Lambert have been together a long time. All the friendships you make with trainers and management and all that, those are part of your life.
Lambert who joked that hes now calling Trotz GM Barry was on his staff in Nashville, Washington and Long Island before taking over when Lou Lamoriello dismissed Trotz after the 2021-22 season.
Former Islanders coach and current Predators general manager Barry Trotz Getty ImagesIn four years coaching the Islanders, that was the only time under Trotz they missed the playoffs, including two runs to the NHLs final four in 2020 and 2021.
see also
Punchless Islanders fall to Predators for 10th straight time
He was demanding as a coach, but very friendly as well as a person, Matt Martin told The Post. Ive got nothing but good things to say about Trotzy. We loved playing with him. I wish we wouldve got the job done one of those two years. Its something well never forget.
Trotz estimated Saturday was the first time he and Lambert had faced each other in a game since the early 1980s, when both were teenagers in the Western Hockey League.
Trotz spent the 2022-23 season on the sidelines before taking over the reins in Nashville from longtime GM David Poile, who had once hired him to coach the expansion Predators in 1998.
The 61-year-old is still getting used to the new job after spending the better part of four decades watching behind a bench.
As a coach, you can have an effect of changing lines, deciding on your personnel, changing systematic things, doing things that affect, hopefully, the game and the result positively. And every 24, 48 hours, you get a result a win or a loss, Trotz said. And youre really married to the schedule.
As a GM, youre a little more removed. I miss the chaos and the emotion and the pure adrenaline of being on the bench versus being 300 rows away from the bench. Its a different vibe. Its harder to get the emotion and all that stuff.
Barry Trotz yells out instructions from the Islanders bench in 2018. APTrotz said hes leaned heavily on Poile in certain situations, but has taken lessons from every general manager hes worked under into the job.
His first trade deadline running the show is coming up in March and, with the Predators entering Saturday in the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference, Trotz said what happens between now and March 8 will dictate the teams direction.
I didnt know what I was expecting in the job, Trotz said. But thats sorta the great thing about it is you dont know what to expect. Thats what Im learning is the fun part of the job is what you think is gonna happen, doesnt happen.
I think with coaching for 40 years, you can sorta smell it, feel it, see it coming a little bit. I think with this, Im still learning it, its new. Theres days where I feel like theres so much I dont have enough hours in the day. And theres days where youre like, I should be good today, I got a little time here. And then all of a sudden, something will come up and your day is gone.
Thats sort of the neat thing about the job. You dont know whats around the next door.
How many decks are used in poker?
In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).
What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?
The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.
What is the best WPT Global bonus code?
Use the WPT Global bonus code WPT777 when registering to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $1200 plus a $100 No Deposit poker bonus.
