John Tavares may be rocking different colours next season, but New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is remaining optimistic.
The defending Stanley Cup winning bench boss joined Sirius XM NHL Network and discussed what losing Tavares meant to the team. Trotz admitted that it’s obviously a huge blow, but insisted the Isles are right around the corner from doing something great.
Put yourself in the 55-year-old’s shoes for one second. He just went from coaching Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Braden Holtby, and will now be tasked with leading a young Isles team that didn’t have a lot going on last season behind the departed John Tavares and forwards Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee. At least he’s still hopeful that things will eventually turn themselves around.
Most Islanders fans aren’t exactly on the same page as Trotz. Tavares jerseys have already been lit on fire and some fans have gone as far as making a Wikipedia edit involving his name.
Barry Trotz has a tough task ahead of him.
(H/T Andrew Gross)
