Moments after the Washington Capitals announced the departure of Todd Reirden as their Head Coach following a second consecutive first-round Stanley Cup playoffs loss, it was said that their next bench boss would have to have experience of coaching at the NHL level.
Well on Tuesday (15th September) the Capitals announced that they’d got their man after offering the position to former Stanley Cup winner Peter Laviolette.
Laviolette, who got his name etched onto Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, becomes the franchises’ 19th Head Coach and the first with NHL experience for well over a decade.
“I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to lead this hockey club,” said Laviolette. “This is a winning organization with high expectations. I look forward to coaching this tremendous group of players and bringing my experience and vision to the team.”
Washington took their time before announcing their new bench boss, with reports suggesting they had interviewed coaches such as Gerard Gallant and Mike Babcock before setting on the 55-year old who, during an 18-year spell in the NHL, has coached the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators along with the Canes.
He comes to the nation’s Capital with an NHL coaching record of 637 wins and 425 losses, ranking him second in wins among U.S. born coaches and 16th all time in the history of the NHL.
Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said: “”Peter is a successful NHL head coach who has won a Stanley Cup and brings a wealth of experience to our team,”
“We feel he is a great communicator who will motivate our players to play with passion, structure and discipline, while helping our young players reach their potential. In addition, he is a high-character individual who is highly respected for his coaching pedigree, all of which make him the ideal person to lead our team to compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Laviolette is now tasked with reviving a franchise who claimed their first Stanley Cup in 2018.
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