Trotz, Capitals working toward deal extension

ARLINGTON, VA. Barry Trotz started dancing as soon as he walked into the locker-room mid-celebration.

Within seconds, players doused him with beer and champagne, jumped around him and hugged their beloved coach.

Trotz couldn’t see but still had plenty of clarity in that moment. “I could feel the love,” he said. Veteran Brooks Orpik believes that moment showed the admiration and respect Washington Capitals players have for Trotz, a pending free agent at the peak of his career after winning the Stanley Cup.

Trotz’s contract status is the biggest question facing Washington as the off-season begins.

Trotz wants to be back, and general manager Brian Maclellan wants to sign the 55-year-old to an extension. Now it’s a matter of them getting a deal done. Trotz and Maclellan met Wednesday to begin discussing a new contract.

It’s uncommon for an established coach of a contending team to go through a lame-duck season and even rarer for a Cup-winner to not be back the next season.

“We’ve got lots of good things going,” Trotz said.

“We’ll work through what we need to do. If that’s what they want, then something will get done. If not, we’ll deal with that.”

Maclellan and the Capitals opted not to extend Trotz last summer following a second consecutive Presidents’ Trophywinning season that ended with a second-round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

After winning the Cup at Vegas, Maclellan said Trotz would be back if he wants to be.