Docs Menu

Barry Trotz

Born:July 15, 1962Draft:Undrafted
Hometown:Winnipeg, MB, CANPosition:Defense
Known For:2 Jack Adams AwardsShoots:Left
National Team:Canada

Barry Trotz (born July 15, 1962) is a Canadian ice hockey executive, former player and coach. He is set to become the second general manager for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in July 2023, prior to that he served as an advisor to current general manager David Poile. He is also the former head coach of the Predators and the Washington Capitals. As an NHL coach, he is third all-time in wins, only behind Scotty Bowman and Joel Quenneville.

He was previously the coach of the American Hockey League (AHL)’s Baltimore Skipjacks and Portland Pirates, with whom he won an AHL championship in 1994. That same year, he won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, which is awarded to the outstanding coach in the AHL as voted upon by the AHL Broadcasters and Writers.

On February 20, 2013, Lindy Ruff was fired by the Buffalo Sabres, making Trotz the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL. He was also the second-longest tenured coach in the four major North American professional leagues, behind only Gregg Popovich of the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs. On May 26, 2014, Trotz was announced as the new head coach of the Capitals. Trotz won his first Stanley Cup as the head coach with the Capitals, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, in the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.

Years as a NHL coach: 1998-2022

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz
New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Barry Trotz Statistics

Deeper Dive

Staff History

  • 1984-85 Univ. of Manitoba CIAU Asst. Coach
  • 1985-87 Dauphin Kings MJHL GM/Head Coach
  • 1987-88 Univ. of Manitoba CIAU Head Coach
  • 1987-91 Washington Capitals NHL Scout
  • 1991-92 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL Asst. Coach
  • 1991-93 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL Head Coach
  • 1993-97 Portland Pirates AHL Head Coach
  • 1997-98 Nashville Predators NHL Scout
  • 1998-14 Nashville Predators NHL Head Coach
  • 2001-03 Canada World Championships Asst. Coach
  • 2008-09 Canada World Championships Assoc. Coach
  • 2012-13 Canada World Championships Asst. Coach
  • 2014-18 Washington Capitals NHL Head Coach
  • 2016-17 Canada World Cup of Hockey Asst. Coach
  • 2018-2022 New York Islanders NHL Head Coach
  • July 2023-present Nashville Predators NHL General Manager

Achievements

  • 1993-94 Calder Cup Champion
  • 1993-94 AHL Coach of the Year (Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award)
  • 1994-95 AHL All-Star Game
  • 2002-03 World Championship Gold Medal
  • 2008-09 World Championship Silver Medal
  • 2015-16 NHL All-Star Game (Head Coach)
  • 2015-16 Jack Adams Award Winner (WSH)
  • 2016-17 World Cup Gold Medal
  • 2017-18 NHL All-Star Game (Head Coach)
  • 2017-18 NHL Stanley Cup Champion
  • 2018-19 Jack Adams Award Winner (NYI)

Sources