Islanders' Barry Trotz has high praise for the 24-team Return to Play format
New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is all in on the NHL's Return to Play format involving 24 teams.
"It's going to be fantastic for the game because you can be in the 12-spot and you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup," said Trotz. "That's how close the League is. There's parity in the League, and if you hit it right, within two months you can be Stanley Cup champions."
The Islanders, who were seventh in the Eastern Conference when the NHL suspended play in March, will play the Florida Panthers in the first round play-in, which is a best-of-five. Trotz is just fine with that.
"If you're going to come out of the [Qualifying Round], you're going to have to win 19 games (to win the Stanley Cup)," Trotz said. "And if you get to the playoffs, you've still got to win 16, which makes it legit for a Stanley Cup. I think this Stanley Cup tournament is going to be fantastic. It's going to be very unpredictable just because we've been off for a long time."
As for who he believes will come out on top, Trotz said that's anyone's guess and he believes all 24 teams have a good chance.
"I think the teams that can come into this with the right mental mindset are going to have a terrific chance," he said.
|
HIER
13 MAI 2026
| ||||
| B | P | PTS | ||
| Nick Foligno | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Parker Kelly | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brett Kulak | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Boldy | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brent Burns | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Martin Necas | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Nico Sturm | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jack Drury | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Marcus Johansson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nicolas Roy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Devon Toews | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Ahcan | - | - | - | |
| Mackenzie Blackwood | - | - | - | |
| Ross Colton | - | - | - | |
| Brock Faber | - | - | - | |
| Marcus Foligno | - | - | - | |
| Ryan Hartman | - | - | - | |
| STATS COMPLÈTES | ||||