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Washington Capitals and Barry Trotz are discussing an extension

By Dave Stevenson

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 09: Head coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals raises the Stanley Cup as the team is honored before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on June 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 09: Head coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals raises the Stanley Cup as the team is honored before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on June 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals are discussing an extension

The Washington Capitals have several free agents that they need to worry about re-signing. One of their most important ones isn’t a player. Head coach Barry Trotz’s contract will expire on July 1, making him a free agent.

However, according to Trotz, the team and the coach have begun discussing an extension. And the coach would like to be back. Trotz confirmed this on Wednesday, June 13, during the Capitals’ exit interviews.

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This shouldn’t be surprising. After all, Trotz’s job was on the line during the season, especially after last postseason’s disappointing exit. Reports indicated the Capitals were close to firing Trotz in November. However, he still led the Caps to an impressive regular season and the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup. So Trotz has held his end of the bargain.

It’s still not a guarantee that he will stay, but with only one head coaching vacancy in the NHL (New York Islanders), he doesn’t have much leverage. Compensation is probably one of the “issues” Trotz and the Capitals have to work through. Expect him to get about $3 million to $5 million annually. The higher end of that would put him in the top four for highest paid coaches.

Should the Washington Capitals re-sign Barry Trotz, associate coach Todd Reirden might pursue other opportunities. Obviously, there’s only one job opening in the NHL. But still, even though Reirden is next in line to replace Trotz as the Caps head coach, he’d probably like to be one himself. A long-term extension for Trotz would put that in jeopardy.

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Assistant coach Lane Lambert could also pursue other opportunities. But unlike Reirden, he hasn’t been heavily sought after. Lambert was, however, a finalist for the Colorado Avalanche head coaching job back in 2016.

Changes could be coming in Washington, but expect the Caps coaching staff to remain mostly intact. Trotz seems interested in staying with the Capitals and the Capitals seem interested in bringing back the coach who helped them win a Stanley Cup.

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