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Columbus Blue Jackets Minding the Metro: Trotz Leaving D.C.

By Lansing Murphy

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 11: Head Coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals watches from behind the bench in the third period of an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Verizon Center on November 11, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 11: Head Coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals watches from behind the bench in the third period of an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Verizon Center on November 11, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Barry Trotz is leaving D.C. but he still may face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Metro Division games next season.

The head coach that not only knocked the Columbus Blue Jackets out of the playoffs, but raised the Stanley Cup, will not be back with his team next season. Barry Trotz has resigned as the head coach of the Washington Capitals and becomes the first head coach since 1994 to not return as the Stanley Cup Champion coach.

Trotz’s contract was known to expire at the end of this season as the Caps failed to extend his contract. What wasn’t known, until now, was that there was a clause granting Tortz and additional two year contract extension if he won the Cup. Trotz refused the extension and resigned from his post as the head man in D.C. after four seasons.

During that time, Trotz has won two Presidents’ Trophies, three Metropolitan Division titles and Lord Stanley’s Cup. He has utterly dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets in that time as well.

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Trotz and the Caps are 12-3-3 against the Jackets in the last four years during the regular season. Add on a 4-0-2 record in the postseason and the Caps have the Jackets number under Trotz time in the nation’s capital.

Another Metro Stop for Trotz?

The Jackets might still have to deal with Trotz next season though. The coach who brought a winning culture and discipline to D.C. might be heading to another Metro team desperately looking to infuse those components in their organization.

The New York Islanders have recently cleaned house and brought in noted GM Lou Lamoriello to right the ship much like he did in Toronto. Lou has a track record of winning and a history of running a disciplined organization from top to bottom.

A coach like Barry Trotz would be a perfect fit on Long Island as Lou looks to rebuilt a once storied franchise and hold on to superstar John Tavares. It also doesn’t hurt the Islanders chance to land Trotz as they currently have the only head coaching vacancy in the NHL.

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This is all contingent on Trotz wanting to coach next year. It was a long four years in Washington that ended on the highest of highs. If Trotz wants to sit out the 2018-2019 season and wait until there are more offers, he could drive up his market value.

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