Ironic return to Nashville for Barry Trotz as All-Star coach

"I feel like an alumni going to a bowl game," says Barry Trotz, coach of the NHL's Metro Division All-Stars, about returning to Nashville, where he was fired in 2014 after 15 seasons.

Alex Prewitt | Jan 29, 2016

Ironic return to Nashville for Barry Trotz as All-Star coach /

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sometime after Christmas, as the Washington Capitals surged further ahead in the Metropolitan Division, head coach Barry Trotz began to think some of his plans were going to get canceled. He and a few friends had discussed traveling somewhere during the NHL All-Star break, and even tossed around a few location ideas. “Somewhere warm, or somewhere out west,” Trotz says. Besides, with one son living in Russia and the rest of his family visiting a daughter in Australia, Trotz was going to be alone during the layoff anyway. The getaway guys’ weekend, he figured, would be rejuvenating before the season picked up again.

Then the Capitals intervened by continuing to do what they have done all season—win. By Dec. 27, their divisional lead had climbed into double digits, 10 points ahead of the sliding New York Rangers. It wasn’t official yet, but the odds overwhelmingly pointed to Trotz spending his break behind a bench in Nashville. He warned his friends about the predicament. They asked if he could get out of it. “They were a little mad at me for not having hall passes,” Trotz says. Eventually, though, the promise of All-Star Game swag swayed popular opinion. They would all go. “We’ll hang out, not have a problem,” Trotz says. “It was more about getting out of town.”

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Consider the irony, then, of the destination of Trotz’s second career All-Star nod (his first was in Dallas, in 2007, as an assistant to Randy Carlyle): Instead of escaping to some beachside property with his buddies, he would fly to the city he knew best, the place he lived for 17 years. By his firing in April 2014, he had become the NHL’s longest-tenured head coach and the second-longest in all North American professional sports, a unicorn among today’s turnover fodder. During his time, the Predators grew from an expansion franchise with little identity, housed in a downtown area Trotz describes as “beat-up,” into a consistent postseason contender worthy of hosting a weekend-long romp. He well remembers rumors of relocation to Kansas City and Hamilton, and wondering whether the experiment with hockey in Tennessee had fizzled out. Now, with hockey fans buzzing along Broadway, he believes Nashville will never feel more alive.

Restless legs: Behind the scenes with the Capitals on a back-to-back swing

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Washington Capitals Road Trip

Verizon Center, Washington DC

On Nov. 27, 2015 the final horn sounds at 7:46 p.m. as the Capitals beat the Tampa Lightning, 4-2, at home. Goalie Braden Holtby stopped 32 shots and Alex Ovechkin (right) scored his 12th goal of the season.

Verizon Center

Defenseman Nate Schmidt conducts one of the hasty postgame interviews with the media. The Capitals have a 9:42 flight to catch at Dulles International and little time to spare.

Verizon Center

While the players dress and clear out, the Capitals equipment management staff swings into action, packing gear and fresh uniforms for the next night's game in Toronto.

Verizon Center

Equipment manager Brock Myles tends to the skates.

Verizon Center

At 7:53 equipment manager Craig Leydig hauls the bags down the hall, out the arena's back exit and to a waiting box truck. In all, 2,770 pounds of gear will make the trip.

In the air

On their way to Toronto aboard a 737, Alex Ovechkin and teammates eat and relax with a game of 7 Up, 7 Down.

Toronto

The Capitals touch down at Toronto Pearson at 10:30 p.m. and head for their accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton on Wellington Street West, one of the poshest hotels used by NHL teams.

Air Canada Centre

The staff gets to work bright and early the next day. By 7:49 a.m. equipment manager Brock Myles is sharpening skates.

Air Canada Centre

At 11 a.m. the Capitals gather with assistant coach Blaine Forsythe for their pregame scouting report on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Riz-Carlton Hotel

After their morning meetings, the Capitals return to their hotel for a meal and afternoon nap.

Air Canada Centre

By 6 p.m. Jay Beagle and Tom Wilson are gearing up for the night's action.

Air Canada Centre

Captain Alex Ovechkin tapes a stick.

Air Canada Centre

Some of the Caps warm up in the hallway outside their locker room by kicking a soccer ball around.

Air Canada Center

Fully dressed for battle, the Capitals prepare to take the ice for warmups.

Braden Holtby

At 6:35 p.m. the Caps' star netminder leads the team out for its pregame skate.

Justin Williams

On his way out to the ice, the Capitals' veteran forward greets an enemy fan.

Air Canada Centre

Having done their best to shake off the effects of the previous night's game and prepare for the next tilt, the Capitals share a moment before taking the ice against the Maple Leafs.

Air Canada Centre

The Capitals survive a sluggish first period, cash in a pair of power plays in the second, and go on to a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

Air Canada Centre

At 9:27 p.m., while the Caps do battle on the ice, members of their coaching staff analyze the action in real time.

Air Canada Centra

Coach Barry Trotz congratulates his troops after their victory.

Air Canada Centre

The victors unwrap and get ready to go.

Air Canada Centre

Goalie Braden Holtby conducts one of the final interviews with the media. By 9:58 p.m., the visitors' locker room will be a ghost town as the Capitals head to the airport for their flight back to Washington.

Justin Williams

Time for a quick autograph before heading for the airport.

Toronto Pearson

Back on the plane goes the gear. Their flight delayed, the Capitals would not take off until just after midnight.

Dulles International

Home sweet home. The gear is unloaded at 1:21 a.m. in DC.

The man who moved the wheel just wants to party.

Published Jan 29, 2016

ALEX PREWITT