Sweat streamed off Ross Johnston after his group’s 90-minute practice at Islanders training camp on Friday as the burly left wing explained how much respect a coach earns by winning the Stanley Cup.
“They went through it all last year,” Johnston said of the Capitals. “That was a team that wanted to play for its coach.”
Barry Trotz, who led the Capitals to that franchise’s first Cup in June and now is the Islanders’ bench boss, led three groups through meticulous practices on the first day on the ice at Northwell Health Ice Center.
The new coach’s message emphasized attention to detail and “going the distance” — in this case, the rink’s 200 feet.