NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The scene outside the Islanders' locker room Saturday morning looked like a family reunion centered around one person.
That would be Barry Trotz. He spent time getting close to almost everyone he saw, from the coaching staff to front office members, team staff and television crews. Saturday's 3-1 loss marked the first time the Islanders faced the Predators since Trotz, who was the team's coach from 2018 to 2022, took over as Nashville's general manager this summer.
Everyone involved was looking forward to this day.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie,” Trotz said. “You go to the team, of course with me [Islanders coach Lane] I've been with Lambert for a long time. All the friendships you make with your trainers and management and everything else, they're part of your life. ”
Lambert, who joked that he now calls Trotz “GM Barry,” was on staff in Nashville, Washington and Long Island before coach Lou Lamoriello fires Trotz and takes over after the 2021-22 season. Ta.
In his four years coaching the Islanders, that was the only time under Trotz that they missed the playoffs, including two runs to the NHL's final four in 2020 and 2021.
“He was demanding as a coach, but very friendly as a person,” Matt Martin told the Post. “I have nothing but good things to say about Trozzi. We loved playing with him. I wish we could have finished that job in one of those two years. It's something we'll never forget. .”
Trotz estimated Saturday was the first time he and Lambert faced each other in a game since the early 1980s, when both were teenagers in the Western Hockey League.
Trotz spent the 2022-23 season on the sideline before taking over the reins in Nashville from longtime general manager David Poile. Poile previously hired Trotz to coach the expansion Predators in 1998.
The 61-year-old is still getting used to his new job after spending the better part of four decades watching from behind the bench.
“As a coach, you have the ability to make an impact by changing lines, making personnel decisions, changing things organizationally, doing things that will hopefully have a positive impact on the game and the outcome. You can. And every 24, 48 hours, you get a win or a loss,” Trotz said. “And you're really married to the schedule.
“As a GM, you're a little more distanced. I miss the chaos and the emotion and the pure adrenaline of being 300 rows from the bench. It's a different atmosphere, you get the emotions and all that stuff. It’s difficult.”
Trotz said he relied heavily on Poile in certain situations, but approached his job taking lessons from every general manager he's ever worked for.
His first trade deadline to run the show is looming in March, and with the Predators entering Saturday in the Western Conference's final wild-card spot, Trotz is looking forward to seeing what will happen between now and March 8th. He said that whether this happens will determine the direction of the team.
“I didn't know what to expect. [in the job]” Trotz said. “But the great thing is you never know what's going to happen. I'm learning that the fun part of the job is that the things you think are going to happen don't happen.
“I think when you've been coaching for 40 years, you can smell it, feel it, see changes little by little. I'm still learning about this and I think it's new. There are days when I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. And then there are days when I'm like, “Today's going to be okay, I've got a little time here.” Then suddenly something happens and your day is over.
“That's the great thing about this job. You never know what's going to be next door.”
