In 2018, fresh off his Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz became the bench boss of the New York Islanders. Although Trotz finally got the Capitals over the hump in 2018, his tenure with the Capitals was not always smooth.

Trotz lost many close series behind the Capitals’ bench before he took them to the promised land.

In fact, Trotz’s first three seasons with the Islanders look almost identical to his first three seasons with the Capitals in terms of outcome. As the Islanders approach their fourth season under Trotz, the question arises: are the Islanders following in his footsteps?

In Trotz’s first season in Washington, he took the Capitals to the second round. However, the Capitals fell to the New York Rangers in seven games The Rangers then lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.

In Trotz’s first season in New York, he took the Islanders to the second round. However, the Islanders got swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes then lost to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final.

The outcome, however, remains the same: In Trotz’s first season with both the Capitals and the Islanders, both teams ended up losing – in the second round – to teams that lost in the Eastern Conference Final.

In Trotz’s second season in Washington, the Capitals lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round in six games. The Penguins then went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In Trotz’s second season in New York, the Islanders lost to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final in six games. The Tampa Bay Lightning then went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The outcome, however, remains the same: In Trotz’s second season with both the Capitals and the Islanders, both teams ended up losing – in six games – to teams that went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In Trotz’s third season in Washington, the Capitals lost again in the second round to the Penguins – in seven games. The Penguins went on to repeat, winning the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.

In Trotz’s third season in New York, the Islanders lost again in the Eastern Conference Final to the Lightning – in seven games. The Lightning went on to repeat, winning the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.

The outcome, however, remains the same: In Trotz’s third season with both the Capitals and the Islanders, both teams ended up losing to teams that went on to win the Stanley Cup. Both teams lost to teams that they faced for the second year in a row. Both teams lost to teams that went on to repeat. And both groups lost in Game 7 of their respective series.

Moreover, in Trotz’s fourth season behind the Capitals bench, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup. Can the Islanders do the same? Only time will tell.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.