Barry Trotz routinely insists that he believes in Braden Holtby. After a recent loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, for instance, the Capitals coach referred to his slumping goaltender as a “rock since the day I’ve been here the last four years.”
But Holtby’s ongoing problems this season protecting the net have Trotz considering something that would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago: benching the longtime Capitals star.
After a 4-0 loss Tuesday to the Anaheim Ducks, Trotz said the Capitals could go with backup Philipp Grubauer “for a bit” while Holtby, 28, tries to right his game.