Back at Capital One Arena for the first time as coach of the New York Islanders after leaving the Washington Capitals following last season, Trotz was honored with a video tribute during the first television timeout of their game on Friday.
Trotz received a standing ovation while the center ice video screen showed highlights of his four seasons coaching the Capitals. The video culminated with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin handing the Stanley Cup to Trotz following their championship-clinching Game 5 win against the Vegas Golden Knights last season and a "Thank you" message to Trotz, Islanders associate coach Lane Lambert and director of goaltending Mitch Korn.
Lambert and Korn each followed Trotz to the Islanders. Korn did not make the trip to Washington.
Clearly trying to hold in his emotions, Trotz waved to the crowd, saluted and tapped his heart. Lambert also waved.
"It was good. My heart got full of all the good memories," Trotz said. "I was looking up there. I was trying not to look too much because I was getting pretty close to that sensitive side of myself. But it was extremely well done, and it was just great memories, and everybody was a part of something special."
At one point, Ovechkin leaned over the bench and yelled to Trotz.
"Ovi's awesome," Trotz said. "He was asking me about the video, 'Do you like it?' And, yeah, I did. There's no question. I've got a good relationship with [Ovechkin]. He's a pretty special player. People here are pretty blessed to watch him probably for the rest of his career. He should finish a Cap and he's playing great."
The 56-year-old resigned as Capitals coach June 18, 11 days after winning the Cup, after being unable to agree on a new contract, and was hired by the Islanders three days later.
Washington went 205-89-34 and made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of its four seasons under Trotz. The Capitals finished in first place in the Metropolitan Division in each of his past three seasons and won the Presidents' Trophy in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
But Trotz's crowning achievement was guiding the Capitals to the first Stanley Cup championship in their 43-season history last season.
"I am appreciative of them doing a tribute," Trotz said. "I wasn't here that long so it's a little bit surprising, but I really appreciate it and I appreciate my time here and the fans and the players and ownership and everybody. It was a fun run."
Trotz thought he wrapped up his time with the Capitals when they visited the Islanders at Barclays Center on Nov. 26. Trotz, Lambert and Korn received their Stanley Cup rings before that game, which Washington won 4-1.
Trotz arrived at the arena around 3:15 p.m. Friday, about three and a half hours before puck drop, and used the time to thank some of the arena and Capitals employees he never got a chance to say goodbye to when he left.
"I thought going into the dressing room [on Nov. 26] and you're face to face with the group that you had so much success with, that was when they presented us with the rings, to me, that was sort of closure," Trotz said. "This is more unfinished business in the sense of saying goodbye to the people who help park the cars, to the people who treated our families really well, the dressing room attendants and all the people that you get to know around the building on a day-to-day basis."
