Barry Trotz is the hottest name on the coaching market right now. The Winnipeg Jets have already interviewed him, and we previously covered that the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers have interest in Trotz as well. Along with those teams, you can add two more organizations into the mix. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Trotz’s list of suitors is “expected to include” the Vegas Golden Knights and Detroit Red Wings.
Both Vegas and Detroit recently fired their coaches, though that’s about where the similarities end between the two franchises. The Golden Knights are an organization with sky-high aspirations and a roster equipped for long playoff runs. The Red Wings, on the other hand, are just beginning to emerge from a rebuild and have a roster with some young stars such as Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond but also enough flaws to keep them from being widely seen as a true contender. With these two teams now in the chase for Trotz, it seems that he will have the pick of the litter when it comes to where he will work next. As one of the most widely respected individuals in hockey, Trotz’s choice will likely say a lot about the direction of the franchise he chooses and be a reason for optimism for that team’s fanbase.
Now, for some other notes from across the NHL:
- We previously covered when Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald publicly communicated a willingness to deal his team’s top draft pick for an impact player, but many have wondered if that willingness still exists since the Devils won the second pick in the draft. According to Friedman, the Devils “will still consider” the possibility of moving the pick. Friedman reports that the Devils are in the process of “firming up a list of players they would consider moving the pick for.” One player who many have speculated will be on that list is Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala. Fiala will be 26 at the start of next season and fits the Devils’ competitive timeline. He also is coming off an extremely productive 85-point season, and the Wild are going to be hard-pressed to find the cap space to keep him. It’s a natural fit for each side, and it seems from Friedman’s reporting that it’s the kind of situation the Devils will ponder as the calendar turns to June.
- Another GM has also communicated a willingness to move a top-ten pick for an impact player: the Ottawa Senators. Per Friedman, the Senators, who pick seventh-overall, are also curious about the possibility of using that pick to acquire a player more immediately able to help their team win. Friedman reports that the Senators “want someone with term,” and speculates that there should be a “wider range” of possibilities at the seventh pick compared to the second. The Senators have a strong prospect pool but finished 26th in the standings, so GM Pierre Dorion’s interest in exchanging his premium draft pick for more proven assets is definitely reasonable.
That Fiala for the second pick trade would be fun to see how it plays out.
I’m curious if Wild would go with Cooley or Slafkovsky if it were to come true.
I’m reading every Trotz article hoping to see Dallas listed. Hopefully they’re one of those other teams interested not listed.
Hell, I’d trade the pick for Fiala. I’ve always failed to understand the reluctance to trade a pick of someone who MIGHT be a star, a few years down the road, for someone who already IS a star, right now … especially since those might-bes could turn out to be Nolan Patrick or Ryan Murray, say.
I agree. In this case, I think it makes sense for both sides. Wild would get an entry level contract during the worst of their cap penalties and still MAY have a great player. NJ gets a known player and jumpstart their rebuild.
Add the Panthers to the list of teams interested in Trotz.
As a Wings fan I’m really surprised Trotz took an interview with them. Why go from Lou to Stevie when they run their programs in essentially the same manner. Head scratcher for sure. Yeah he’s from Winnipeg but I believe Vegas and Florida (if it opens) are the likely destinations.