The Washington Capitals announced on Friday that they had parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette. The team described the decision as “mutual.”
Laviolette leaves the franchise after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign that saw the Capitals miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years. The team finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 35-37-10 record.
“We are grateful for Peter’s leadership and dedication to our organization for the last three seasons,” Capitals’ general manager Brian MacLellan said in a team-released statement. “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.”
The Capitals brought in Laviolette in 2020 as a replacement for Todd Reirden. He led the team to Stanley Cup playoffs in his first two seasons at the helm but failed to progress past the first round. Laviolette compiled a record of 115-78-27 during his time with Washington.
MacLellan is expected to take some time during his search for the franchise’s new head coach, but there are already several names being mentioned as potential candidates. The list includes Todd Nelson, head coach of Capitals’ AHL affiliate Hershey Bears, Tampa Bay Lightning’s assistant Jeff Halpern and Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant Spencer Carbery.
Laviolette, on the other hand, is expected to receive serious consideration from other NHL teams. The Anaheim Ducks and the Columbus Blue Jackets are among franchises with a head coach opening at the moment.
