Trotz: Anthem protests honor flag, condemn racial injustice

As a resident of Washington, D.C., it was only a matter of time before Barry Trotz was asked about the recent protests that have engulfed the sports world.

After Wednesday's morning skate, the Washington Capitals head coach indicated his team doesn't have a plan for addressing the protests, but said he'll offer his support if his players choose to demonstrate.

"That's the great thing about our country," Trotz said, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "We get to speak our piece, if you will, without sometimes ramifications. In other countries, there's dire consequences if you speak up. That's the gift of living in the United States and people can express it, and I'll support anybody for that. But I do think that, me personally, we're honoring the flag. We're maybe not honoring some of the things that are going on in our country."

Washington has two games left on its exhibition schedule before beginning the regular season Oct. 5.