The Washington Capitals' early season death spiral cost head coach Glen Hanlon his job, as the club gave him his walking papers on Thanksgiving Day. Assistant coach Bruce Boudreau will take over on an interim basis.
Something had to give with this team, now wallowing in the bottom of the league standings with 13 points and with only one victory in their previous ten games prior to Hanlon’s firing.
The wheels fell off early this season for the Capitals despite their off-season acquisitions of veterans Tom Poti, Michael Nylander and Victor Kozlov. Injuries were also a contributing factor, particularly to Alexander Semin, who’s played only two games thus far into this season.
Franchise player Alexander Ovechkin has been playing his heart out as usual and again is one of the few bright spots about this team. Still, he cannot be happy with the team’s lack of progress this season, and that’ll be a factor in the club’s efforts to re-sign him to a contract extension.
Ovechkin will be re-signed but it’s probably going to cost the Caps more than they’d anticipated prior to this season.
It remains to be seen how long Boudreau will remain the bench boss. If the Capitals rebound like the Atlanta Thrashers did last month after changing coaches following an 0-8 start Boudreau will obviously finish the season.
That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising if management is shopping around for a more experienced NHL head coach. Former Thrashers coach Bob Hartley is available, as is former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn.
Speaking of management, GM George McPhee could be next on the chop block if the Caps fail to respond positively to this coaching change.
McPhee’s been the general manager for a decade and had early success, including the team’s first and only appearance in the Stanley Cup finals in 1998.
But the last several years have not been memorable, including a massive “fire sale” of talent late in the 2003-04 season that gutted the roster and left them relying predominantly on untested youth following the lockout season.
Team owner Ted Leonsis is a patient man, but if the Capitals fail to reverse their sagging fortunes soon, McPhee could follow Hanlon out the door.
Some observers predicted the Capitals could become this season’s version of the 2006-07 Penguins, another young team led by a baby-faced superstar that exceeded expectations to make the playoffs.
Enough time remains in the season for the Capitals to turn things around, but sitting 9 points out of a playoff berth there’s not much room for error, and if they cannot get themselves back into the playoff race by Christmas, more changes could be in store.
"Ovechkin will be re-signed but it’s probably going to cost the Caps more than they’d anticipated prior to this season."
Anyone else find that a little ironic. Ovi's unhappy with the team's performance, so he wants more money to stay, leaving management with less money to improve team performance.
This cap world is strange indeed.
Last edited by Alexei_Cashin on November 23rd at 10:49 AM.
Hanlon had a good run with them until this year. Even with mediocre talent, he had them playing hard consistently. I agree that McPhee will be next. The team had years of stockpiling draft choices with Ovechkin and Semin (after a hiatus) panning out. Hopefully, Backstrom will be the next good one, but I think too many of their 1st through 3rd rounders did not develop as hoped. It seems they have had plenty of chances at the draft table.
The Caps needed a shot in the arm in a big way. I think they will be fine with the new coach. They just finished beating the Canes and have now won two games in a row. Backstrom had another two points tonight. Injuries have been a factor but they are for every team in the league. The Caps need a punisher on D and they need Semin back. I think they will come back but are just not deep enough yet no matter what Leonsis said at the start of the year. I hate to say it but Ovechkin is solid night in night out and is worth at least 8 million a season. The new coach and a winning streak and hopefully he takes the hometown discount but the Caps will be fine now that Hanlon is gone.
Last edited by ahawksboy on November 24th at 6:49 PM.
I heard Pat Burns was considering a comeback, provided his doctors approve. I always thought of him as a Keenan-esque kind of coach, but I only really saw him for the year and a half in Boston (and who wouldn't scream his head off behind that bench!) so I don't have a good gauge on his style. Would he be a good fit on the Caps bench? Another name amongst unemployed NHL-caliber coaches was Pat Quinn.
On another note, I noticed JFJ's future in question again (as well as Paul Maurice's). Neil Smith's still looking for a GM job.
Last edited by chaas on November 26th at 12:26 PM.
That a sad franchise in Washington. No better than the one in LA. They have a goaltending and a star. What the hell does LA have? Maybe they should move or trade somebody?
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
