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Barry Trotz: If you’re scared of playing in the NHL, get a dog

NHL Awards Portraits

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Head coach Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators poses for a portrait during the 2011 NHL Awards at the Palms Casino Resort June 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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When you cross Barry Trotz and you happen to be on his team when you tick him off, you’d better get out of the way. After Nashville’s 5-1 loss to Vancouver last night, Trotz sounded off in a big (and pretty hilarious) way to the press afterward.

The Tennessean’s Joshua Cooper dodged the insults and got the quotes we all desire.

On the play of rookie Mattias Ekholm, Trotz was brief.

“I thought he was horrible, just horrible.”

When it came to the host of younger guys he’s playing and having them deal with the likes of the Sedins and Ryan Kesler, Trotz was dead-nuts direct.

“You’re going to have to line up against the best in the league, if you’re scared of that, get a dog.”

If there’s one thing Trotz was thankful for, it was for Canucks coach Alain Vigneault playing nice with him.

“I want to thank Alain Vigneault for not playing his top two lines the last 10 minutes.”

If you think that Trotz was breaking out the sarcasm there, he wasn’t. Vigneault kept rolling his third and fourth lines late in the game.

A blow up like this is the thing of legend. Seeing a coach so thoroughly disgusted with his team that he not only named names and complimented the opposing coach for taking it easy on them, he capped it off by pulling a Bob Barker-esque spin for the youngsters.

Priceless.

While it’s not quite football coach Mike Gundy yelling, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” or even John Tortorella snapping off at Larry Brooks, one thing’s for sure, I’m glad I’m not taking part in the Preds’ next practice. Hello bag skate!