Caps’ Title Winning Coach Barry Trotz Leaving And Similar Notes
Barry Trotz is not the first coach that will not be with his defending Stanley Cup champion, team (in this case the Washington Capitals) the following season.
Tom Johnson of the ’72 title team Bruins and the retiring Hector “Toe” Blake, after the ’68 Canadiens won it all, are two that come to mind.
There are others, however, in a way, let’s go full circle 50 years and in the NHL’s annals 50 seasons later, concerning Blake’s great coaching disciple, Scotty Bowman.
Bowman coached the first year St.Louis Blues in that ’68 Final, losing in 4 straight games, three by only one goal, to Blake’s 8th title team.
In ’02 Bowman broke mentor Blake’s record, winning his 9th title and a la Blake after ’68, retired.
Trotz will coach elsewhere and 50’s (years and seasons) later, left a title team, this one the Caps, who won their first title and for that matter final series game, vs a truly impressive first year, Las Vegas Golden Knights’ team.
