5th-winningest coach in NHL history nearing a return to the league

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Kevin Garcia
December 15, 2022 (3:30 PM)

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It was the talk of the town when the Islanders decided to fire Barry Trotz at the end of last season. It was a strange move considering that Islanders made it to the conference finals just a few years ago. They missed the playoffs last season, but that was after a ridiculous amount of injuries and illnesses.

Prior to this season, Barry Trotz acknowledged that one big thing that was missing from his resume was coaching for an "Original 6" team.

Trotz is not quite ready to return to coaching yet, but he did make a comment on where his situation currently stands:

"I don't know yet, I'm deciding. There's a couple teams that reached out and I said I'm not there yet. I'm probably going to take the rest of the year off and see where I am. It's still a part of me but I'm going to continue to stay true to myself and my family right now."

Trotz has 914 career coaching wins, which is the 3rd most all time. That many wins doesn't make a rebuilding squad the right move for him, and with the Bruins and Red Wings having fresh coaches, that only leaves a few "Original 6" teams for him: Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Canadiens.

He has already mentioned that he doesn't know if he would enjoy coaching in Toronto or Montreal, which leaves New York as the only suitable option at this point. The Rangers have star power and, with a couple good moves at the deadline, can easily becomes favorites to win it all.

But...will Trotz ever get that call?