Peter Laviolette’s next NHL head coaching stop will be with the Washington Capitals as that team looks to squeeze any success that’s left with this current squad before the impending rebuild is undertaken.
The Washington Capitals have hired Peter Laviolette to be their next head coach, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.
Laviolette, 55, replaces Todd Reirden, who was fired from the team in August after two consecutive seasons of Stanley Cup playoff disappointment. The Pittsburgh Penguins later hired Reirden as an assistant coach nearly a week and half after the move.
Laviolette, who most recently served as the head coach of Nashville Predators, has 18 years of NHL head coaching experience with the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville. He has led three teams to the Stanley Cup finals — the Predators in 2017, the Flyers in 2010 and Hurricanes in 2006 — and won the Cup with Carolina.
With aging stars like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Bäckström, Caps general manager Brian MacLellan stressed the need for an “experienced” head coach and somebody that could “hold people accountable”. Obviously this was something that was missed with Todd Reirden when Barry Trotz left for the Islanders after Washington’s Stanley Cup championship in 2018 due to a contract dispute.
Essentially Laviolette could be exactly what the Caps need given his fiery approach and early success with teams before they either start underperforming or he wears out his welcome.
Interestingly enough, Laviolette beat out former Maple Leafs, Red Wings, and Ducks head coach Mike Babcock as well as former Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers bench boss Gerard Gallant for the job.
