Islanders hire ex-Capitals coach Trotz
Barry Trotz has gone from lifting the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals to coaching the New York Islanders in just two weeks.
Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello hired Trotz on Thursday, three days after he resigned from the Capitals, and gave him the kind of long-term security Washington wouldn’t.
Immediately scooping up an accomplished, Cup-winning coach is the Islanders’ latest step to try to keep face of the franchise John Tavares, who can become a free agent July 1.
“If you know anything about Lou Lamoriello, his background and what he does, he will do what it takes to win,” Trotz said on a conference call.
“I felt strongly that once Lou gets with John, Lou’s going to execute a plan, a long-term plan that will be very successful so we can chase the Stanley Cup and win a Stanley Cup.”
Trotz’s new deal is reportedly worth double what he would have made annually on an automatic extension that kicked in with the Capitals and five years instead of two.
The 55-year-old Trotz, who helped Washington win the Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back seasons and then the Cup, didn’t feel Washington was willing to increase his salary and decided to take a chance to leave.
Under Trotz, the Capitals won their first title in franchise history, which triggered a clause in his contract that gave him a $300,000 raise to about $2 million for the next two seasons.
Report: NFL to suspend Winston
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on track to begin the regular season without their starting quarterback.
The NFL is expected to suspend Jameis Winston several games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. ESPN first reported the news. Winston has not been notified of his suspension, nor has the team, Rapoport added.
The Buccaneers said they don’t expect to issue any statements until there’s an official announcement from the league.
Winston’s looming suspension surrounds an alleged groping incident with a female Uber driver in Scottsdale, Ariz., in March 2016.
No police report was filed.
New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson will serve six months of probation following a January arrest in Florida where authorities initially said he tried to speed away from police.
Wide receiver Demetris Robertson is leaving California after two years. Robertson tweeted that he’s “decided not to continue my education and football career” at Cal because of personal matters. The tweet didn’t say what Robertson will do next.
Fresno State has hired Terry Tumey as athletic director. Tumey replaces Jim Bartko, who resigned in November.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth shot a seven-under-par 63 to match Zach Johnson for the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship a TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. Rory McIlroy missed a 13-foot putt for par on the final hole that would have given him a share of the lead and finished in a tie for third place with Brian Harmon and Peter Malnati. Brooks Koepka followed his second straight U.S. Open victory with a 68 .... Sebastien Gros carded a four-under 68 in windy conditions to lead by one shot after the opening round of the BMW International Open at Pulheim, Germany.
Defending champion Roger Federer overcame two match points for Benoit Paire to reach the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 win at Halle, Germany . ... Novak Djokovic eased past second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov at Queen’s Club in London with a 6-4, 6-1 win. Former topranked Djokovic had little trouble against the 2014 champion and advanced to the quarterfinals . ... Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza lost to unseeded Barbora Strycova 6-2, 6-4 in the Birmingham Classic.
Keturah Orji set a meet record in the triple jump with a leap of 47 feet, 101⁄2 inches, highlighting the opening session at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Des Moines.
The University of Connecticut fired men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie after finding NCAA violations that included improper training sessions and improper contact with recruits by Ollie and former UConn star Ray Allen, according to documents released by the school.