Barry Trotz retires from coaching?

Former Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz received quite a bit of attention this offseason, but ultimately decided NOT to return to the NHL and now there are reports that Trotz may be considering retiring from the game permanently.

The 60 year old coach reportedly turned down an offer from his hometown Winnipeg Jets and presumably had other options on the table, but opted to stick close to home this season to be with his family. Trotz's mother passed away in January and Trotz helped his father pack and move out of his home of the past six decades. On top of that Trotz's son has Down's Syndrome and Trotz himself has stated in the past that he'd like to spend more time with his son so that he can support him better in his transition to becoming more independent. All of this together has led to the speculation that Trotz could be calling it quits for good. After all, he has a tidy $20 million in his back pocket thanks to the Islanders, he has a Stanley Cup on his resume thanks to the Capitals and he's got a family at home to be with... could you blame the guy for retiring?\

There's just one problem...

Trotz ain't done yet, reports TSN insider Pierre LeBrun.

From LeBrun's most recent 'Insider Trading' segment for TSN:

LeBrun: No, that's right, and if you're calling that one of the biggest surprises, surprise number two would be that he did not take up some of the offers he had on the table and removing himself from the coaching market. We know there was an offer from the Winnipeg Jets, but there was also interest from Detroit, [Las] Vegas and Philadelphia. Trotz made a very difficult and unselfish decision to attend to family matters this summer. I caught up with Trotz yesterday and as difficult as that decision was, to put his career on hold, he knows it was the right decision. He had a really busy summer attending to family matters, going to Manitoba to help his Dad pack up their home of 60 years, and losing his mother back in January so a lot going on in his life, he made the right call. But know this: Trotz feels re-energized, refreshed, and he intends to coach again in the NHL. Obviously, no opportunity right now but when the time comes - whether that's a coaching fire this season or the off-season carousel - Trotz is ready to go.

- Pierre LeBrun

Look for Trotz once again to be a hot free agent on the coaching market once vacancies start to emerge.