Barry Trotz

Barry Trotz (born July 15, 1962) is the head coach of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and the former head coach of the NHL's Nashville Predators. He was previously the coach of the American Hockey League'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 NBA's San Antonio Spurs. On April 14, 2014, the Nashville Predators announced that Trotz would not return for his 16th season as head coach. On May 26, 2014, Trotz was announced as the new head coach of the Washington Capitals.

Coaching career

Early years

Before becoming a coach, Trotz played for the WHL's Regina Pats from 1979 to 1982, winning the WHL Championship in 1980. Trotz during that time played in 191 games, scoring 15 Goals with 60 Assist and 324 PIM. Trotz played his final year of junior hockey in his home town of Dauphin, Manitoba, where the Kings won the MJHL title as well as the Anavet Cup.