Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Barry Trotz Has Never Had A Forward Group This Talented
When people think of Barry Trotz, they naturally think of defense. That’s how Trotz sustained success in Nashville during his 15-year tenure with the Predators. That was because Nashville didn’t have elite forwards, so Trotz had to rely on his blue line instead. However, Trotz proved last season with the Washington Capitals that he’s more than just a defensive guru. In Trotz’s first year with the Capitals, they finished in the top 10 in goals scored during the regular season.
One of the biggest concerns before the 2014 season was how Trotz would work with Ovechkin and Trotz. Could he utilize their talents and help them become better players? The answer was a clear “yes”, as Ovechkin and Backstrom both had excellent seasons. Ovechkin went from looking lost defensively to being a dynamic two-way player like he was under Boudreau. Under Trotz’s tutelage, Backstrom led the NHL assists.
In 2015, Trotz will have an even deeper forward group thanks to the additions of Oshie and Williams. Combined with Marcus Johansson, Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Backstrom, Trotz will be coaching arguably his most talented top two forward lines that he’s ever had. Tom Wilson and Andre Burakovsky should lead a third forward line that could be a scoring line.
Washington Capitals fans should be excited to see what Trotz can do with these forwards.
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