The New York Islanders made the surprising decision to fire head coach Barry Trotz on Monday after a disappointing 2021-22 season. The move came as a shock to many considering the defensive improvements the Islanders had made under Trotz, but recent rumors have shed some more light onto the organization's decision. According to Nick Kypreos, Islanders star Mathew Barzal and Trotz apparently didn't see eye to eye, with a void emerging between the two. When push came to shove, the Islanders chose to back their star player, rather than their coach, severing ties with Trotz in order to keep Barzal happy.
Via TJMS, @RealKyper indicates there was a void between Barzal and Trotz.
The same source as below indicated to me back in February if it came down to choosing between Trotz and Barzal, the #isles choose Barzal. And now, here we are. https://t.co/Jw9kusfiGw
— James Nichols (@JamesNicholsNHL) May 9, 2022
Trotz figures to land a new coaching gig without much difficulty, and various teams are expected to show interest in the former Islanders boss. Islanders insider James Nichols reports that Trotz's contract with the Islanders was not a factor in the team's decision to part ways with him, further suggesting the decision stemmed from his relationship with Barzal.
The Islanders signed Barzal to a three-year, $21 million extension back in 2020. He's due to make $10 million in base salary in 2022-23, and the Isles are hoping to keep him on the roster beyond his current deal, which expires after next season.
Even if the inklings about Barzal and Trotz were true, Nichols noted that Barzal was not the one who requested Trotz be removed from his role. This season, Barzal featured in 73 games, scoring 15 goals and adding 44 assists.
Across four seasons as head coach of the Islanders, Trotz led the team to a 152-102-34 record. The team had its worst season under his tutelage in 2021-22, winning just 37 games on the year and recording a losing record for the first time in the Trotz era.
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