Reports: Barry Trotz nearing deal to be Washington Capitals head coach

Apr 8, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Predators 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Capitals are nearing a deal to name former Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz as the team’s head coach according to reports from ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and Winnipeg Free Press’ Gary Lawless.

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Lebrun tweeted, “Nothing completed at this point but hearing that talks intensifying between Washington Capitals and Barry Trotz.” 25 minutes later Lawless tweeted, Trotz deal with Capitals is close but not complete. If things proceed as expected – announcement could come early this week.”

Trotz, 51, ho had spent the last 15 seasons with the Predators reportedly interviewed with team owner Ted Leonsis and president Dick Patrick on Tuesday.

The Capitals made sweeping changes after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and fired general manager George McPhee and head coach Adam Oates. The team is straying away from their recent trend of hiring head coaches with no prior head coaching experience.

Trotz brings a wealth of experience as he has been behind coaching since 1984 when he was an assistant at the University of Manitoba and later received his first professional coaching job when he was hired as the head coach of Washington’s AHL affiliate in 1992, the Baltimore Skipjacks, whom he led to two Calder Cup Finals, including the 1994 championship team.

Assuming the deal is completed as the reports suggest, Trotz brings a career record of 557-479-60-100 and seven playoff appearances to the nation’s capital where he will be given the responsibility of getting Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and company back to the playoffs.

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