There is no chapter on this in the Coaching 101 textbook, and there is no one alive (or dead) who has had quite this work experience before.
So in that sense the Islanders have no particular advantage being coached by future Hall of Famer Barry Trotz in their first-round playoff series against Todd Reirden, his former assistant, and the Capitals, his former team.
Before this month, none of Trotz’s 121 playoff games as an NHL head coach had been conducted in a COVID-19 bubble in Toronto, as had none of Reirden’s seven.
But let’s be real here: The Islanders absolutely do have an edge in this unique postseason being led by team president Lou Lamoriello, the world’s most buttoned-up, i-dotting, t-crossing sports executive, and Trotz.