NHL Rumors: 2 Teams Expected to Battle Over Barry Trotz

The New York Islanders decided to let head coach Barry Trotz go with one season remaining on his contract. The news dropped earlier this week and it sounds like Trotz won't be waiting very long for his next contract offer to come across his desk.

Reports have surfaced suggesting Trotz will be interviewed for the vacant head coaching positions with the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets. The latter of the two should be considered the favorite as his coaching style would match up perfectly for the re-grouping Jets. As for the Flyers, Rick Tocchet remains the lead candidate for the position.

There's certainly going to be major changes in Winnipeg this offseason and it starts with finding the right voice behind the bench. Several members of their coaching staff were let go once the season concluded and since then, players such as Mark Scheifele have voiced their displeasure with the state of the franchise.

As for Trotz, the 59-year-old went 152-102-34 for a .587 points % with the Islanders and this season his hockey club was in tough from the get go as they played their first 13 games on the road and then missed a number of players throughout the season due to COVID outbreaks. If it's not the Jets or Flyers, perhaps Trotz gets a look in Motown with the Detroit Red Wings? Time will tell but it surely sounds like the Jets are the favorites:

Friedman on TJMS talking Barry Trotz:

I have to think the Jets are going to be all over this, now does that mean that I think he's going to end up there? I don't know.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) May 9, 2022