Trotz's decision Monday sent shockwaves through the NHL coaching community, including the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL coach of the year.
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Gallant, who coached the first-season Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in five games, will be the hometown favorite to win the Jack Adams at the 2018 NHL Awards presented by Hulu at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN). Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy and Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar are the other finalists.
Trotz, 55, won the Jack Adams after the Capitals won the Presidents' Trophy in 2015-16, but this season might have been his best.
Despite the departures of veterans Justin Williams, Marcus Johansson, Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt and Kevin Shattenkirk, Washington finished first in the Metropolitan Division for a third consecutive season. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup for the first time since entering the NHL in 1974.
After the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 on June 7, there appeared to be a good chance Trotz would return. But he resigned Monday after he and the Capitals were unable to agree on a contract extension.
"I didn't know a whole lot about the contract situation, but I thought Barry did an unbelievable job, and that's the way things happen," Gallant said. "I don't know a lot of what's going on, just what you read in the papers, and Barry to me did an unbelievable job. He's a great coach and a good person, and I'm sure he'll be OK."