Barry Trotz resigned from the Washington Capitals on Monday, just 11 days after he and the team won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. He was spotted wearing a suit at the Newark airport later that afternoon, fueling speculation he was meeting with the New York Islanders, the only team that had a head-coaching vacancy. Three days later, Trotz became the Islanders’ new coach while the Capitals have yet to name his replacement.
Once Washington accepted Trotz’s resignation, there were no restrictions on where he could coach, and his move to a Metropolitan Division opponent the Capitals will play at least four times a year stings.