Washington Capitals have started their hunt for the next person tasked with turning a team just 2-years out from winning the Stanley Cup, back into a contender once again.
It comes after the franchise fired Todd Reirden following their second straight first-round playoff exit, this time at the hands of the New York Islanders.
But who will be the guy to get the job?
Capitals fans have wasted no time in taking to social media to say who they want to see behind the bench at the Capital One Arena with several names being thrown into the mix.
However all the names mentioned have one thing in common, experience of being a Head Coach at the NHL level, something missing from the resume’s of the majority of the Capital’s past Head Coaches over the last 10-years.
Indeed, since Ron Wilson left the franchise in 2002, only one of the next seven Head Coaches had done so in the NHL prior to arriving in the Nation’s Capital and he [Barry Trotz] won the team their one and only Stanley Cup in 2018.
The likes of Bruce Boudreau and Bruce Cassidy have gone on to coach in the NHL since leaving Washington with some fans suggesting they would like to see the former return for a second stint.
NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp agreed with those on social media by pinpointing former Florida, Columbus and Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant as the person for the job.
“For me though, that’s the fit.” Said Rupp.
“The players play for him, they go through a wall for him, he motivates players, but there is accountability through and through. He doesn’t care what name’s on the back of your sweater, you’re going to be responsible for the way you play.
“[Gallant] for me in the early start here is the perfect fit I think.”
Washington Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellen hinted that experience is what they’d be going for as part of their search and has seen Gallant close up after the Caps beat the Golden Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
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