I never understood why the Caps let Trotz go a month after winning the first cup in team history. Was there some kind of back story or underlying dispute that I missed? That move made zero sense to me.
- BOSS_TWEED
Hmm... Trotz had a clause in his contract that kicked in when the Caps won the Cup. It added 2 years to his contract which, initially, looked like it wouldn’t be renewed unless the Caps made it past the 2nd round.
Before the Capitals won the Cup - specifically, after they went down 0-2 to Columbus in the first round (even though for the most part they played well. NOT the garbage we say all but 2 periods of this series,) I think the bottom dropped out.
Before the end of game 2, Trotz puts in Holtby to replace Grubauer, who has played fine, but something had to be done. It was the coaching move that finally got Trotz past the 2nd round. The game was practically out of reach and the Caps were now in a disappointing 0-2 start at home (at the time I think no team had come back from losing 0-2 at home in round 1 or something, but can’t remember if that’s true)
But it was the last shot; it had been Holtby’s crease for majority of the ride and I think whether said or not it was Trotz and the team knowing that this was it for this “family,” per se. It galvanized the team and sparked that magic you need even after you start playing at that level of flow needed to just be in the right place at the right time (many gwg), and/or making the timely saves that win a crucial close game.
Diving a smidge back - the Capitals have had a boner for Todd Reirden for quite some time. He was always considered to be the heir apparent to Trotz. It was no secret. And for all intents and purposes it was not a bad plan. In my opinion I imagine there was some disgruntlement that had brewed during the season. The previous two post seasons ended with second round knockout by the Penguins and I can tell you, as a now nearly 38 year old Caps fan, that they probably the most gut-wrenching and heart-breaking of them all. They were battles of giants in the East and they were close and they ended the way they always do, but it felt like the Capitals played every bit as good as the eventual back-to-back champs, but just couldn’t get the save and the goal when it was either teams to grasp. They were heartbreaking because it get for the first time that Ovechkins and Backstroms window was going to close.
As the Caps struggled the next season after losing some key players and Holtby unable to stabilize his playing, there were reportedly 2 games where coach Trotz’s job was “saved” by a Caps win. One against the Sharks and off the top of my head I can’t remember the other. So you know that the beef was being cooked, so to speak. I think there was some behind the scenes Reirden and GMBM discussion. The disgruntlement was already ready to go when the Caps fell into the first hole.
Then a magical run bookended by Lars Eller being in the right place at the right time completely changes the landscape.
The Caps play like there is no tomorrow because there wasn’t. They trail in each series. Each one is up and down. They fought. It’s cliche, but they overcame 40+ years of their franchise’s worth of previously bitter scenarios in SC one run, to end up being the worst-starting expansion team in the history of the NHL (though I mean when you’re like the 5th and 6th team in like back to back seasons to expand a league the options to build a team aren’t going to be like what Vegas had) against arguably the most successful “true” expansion team in the history of the modern leagues (with a GM that drafted the core from Washington) - I mean it’s like I wrote it and played it for years as a kid in my EA Sports franchise lol
Reports in DC (ie the “lip-readers” that Trotz basically told Torts during the handshake that “he was gone” after the ‘loffs. Bags were packed.
Then the Caps won the Cup but the goose was cooked. Trotz 2 year clause hits, but now he has all the leverage. He want 5 years and like 5 mil or something. Business analytics tells you that’s a lot of tenure for a coach considering before the playoff run the Caps were overall stagnant and somewhat declining. Caps probably would have given him the increase in money but the years would have run Reirden off.
GMBM played his hand too early and handcuffed himself into hiring Reirden or have a high chance of starting an expensive rebuild year with a new coach/new system. Caps management feels they have to go all in on the years before Oshie is claimed by Seattle. Reirden makes the most sense in trying to keep the status quo at the least financial risk.
Caps wouldn’t give Trotz five years, so Trotz resigned. Problem is that analytics don’t measure locker rooms or measure how motivating someone can be. Trotz is a consummate professional, who has worked hard and is loyal, has a strong family that has its own challenges. In many ways he was inspiring to play for and that’s just one of those championship-winning season intangibles that can give you an edge.
Maybe Reirden will be a suitable coach in the future and here’s hoping he can be soon because with such a weird season/off-season I just cant see it being the Caps move to replace him unless the team still looks apathetic into next season.
The Capitals have some potentially massive changes coming or possibly very little. Holtby is the pin. If Samsonov is hurt more than is being let on then the Caps might try to bring Holtby back for a season but ramblings are that Braden and fam have been preparing to move from DC. With him and Gudas off the books the Caps have nearly $10M to upgrade throughout the line-up. If Samsonov has damaged his career then the Caps are in some trouble because at Ovi and Backys stage you can’t be going out there with freaking ahl goalies. Might as well keep your franchise goalie IF he wants to stay. And I’d rather take 4 shots at finding the 2018 Michal Kempny then sign one 3M radko gudas (although I actually kinda liked Gudas at times) Caps need forewords who can forecheck like Beagle and create turnovers. Hathaway and some just weren’t cutting it but then again Beagle was in the system for years.
Ah sorry for rambling on - just finally digested the first Capitals series loss in quite a long time that I figured would happen before it started.
