Capitals, coach Peter Laviolette half methods after lacking playoffs

The Washington Capitals and coach Peter Laviolette have determined to half methods after the workforce missed the playoffs for the primary time in practically a decade.

General supervisor Brian MacLellan introduced the choice, which he described as mutual, on Friday, lower than 24 hours after the Capitals’ season ended. Laviolette’s contract was set to run out.

“We are grateful for Peter’s leadership and dedication to our organization for the last three seasons,” MacLellan stated in a press release. “Peter is a first-class individual who has represented our club with integrity and guided our team through many difficult circumstances in his tenure as our head coach. We wish him all the best moving forward.”

Laviolette, 58, coached the Capitals for the previous three seasons, making the playoffs in every of the primary two to increase the group’s postseason streak to eight years. They misplaced within the first spherical every time and haven’t gained a collection since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2018 underneath Barry Trotz.

Washington went 220-115-78 within the common season underneath Laviolette, who coached Carolina to the Cup in 2006 and in addition took two different groups to the ultimate: Philadelphia in 2010 and Nashville in 2017.

MacLellan, president Dick Patrick and proprietor Ted Leonsis will now start the seek for the eighth coach of Alex Ovechkin’s NHL profession.

Ovechkin is 73 targets away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s profession document. He turns 38 in September and has three years remaining on his contract.

Leonsis has advised Ovechkin he wouldn’t rebuild whereas the longtime Russian captain is chasing Gretzky’s document. Laviolette’s substitute will likely be tasked with protecting the Capitals successful – and scoring targets – with an ageing roster and restricted likelihood for main change due to prolonged contracts and the wage cap solely getting one other modest enhance for 2023-24.