It happened. However you want to interpret the “relieved of duties” terminology, it seems by all accounts that future Hall of Fame coach Barry Trotz was fired. And the only answer from Lamoriello has been that the players need a new voice.
Anything that has been shared elsewhere, whether it is from former players that think they know the situation or the guy from around the block, the only way we will truly know the conversations between Lamoriello and Trotz, or Lamoriello and the players is if THEY share it.
If not, it’s all speculation in my eyes.
But that does not mean we can’t have a little fun breaking down the speculations. So let’s go through the logical ones that I have heard from around the league in a situation that seems illogical on the surface. And then I’ll share my take on it.
Players Needed a New Voice
To start, let’s go along with what Lamoriello said to the media shortly after the announcement came Monday. After three years under Barry Trotz, with success in his system, more so in the postseason than the regular-season outlier of 2018-19, the team needs a new voice to move forward.
The players were not at their best, with a few players who had just signed contracts not living up to their price tag early. The coaching staff was not at their best, as Trotz had even said that he made mistakes in terms of leashes with veterans.
Lamoriello saw players not living up to expectations and gave them the benefit of the doubt at the Trade Deadline, by standing pat. They played better following, but there were games where the Islanders did not seem all there.
Obviously, the number of games that were played in March and April would have drained any team’s energies, but some losses showcased some disinterest. Being at all the home games and a few road games, I never got the vibe that the team quit on Trotz. But Lamoriello would know more than us.
And Lamoriello saw this season as a failure for an organization that needs to continue to take steps forward and decided a change was needed.
I don’t buy the “not talking to players before making the decision” because I think a move of the magnitude would only be made after hearing what players had to say. Now, if Lamoriello did talk to players, I don’t think any players bashed Trotz as a leader or bashed Trotz ability as a coach.
I think, and again just my opinion, that Lamoriello may have read between the lines on some players concerns and came to the conclusion that a new voice was needed.
Was the lack of production by some players due to the wearing down physically and mentally of the system? Now, it’s not just good enough to look at this 82-game season, which was nowhere close to normal. The Islanders have played 288 regular-season games in Trotz’s system and another 49 grueling playoff series.
