The Washington Capitals and Peter Laviolette have agreed to part ways. The 2022-23 season marks the first time since 2013-14 that the Capitals failed to qualify for the playoffs. The team’s General Manager Brian MacLellan announced on Friday. The decision was deemed mutual with Laviolette’s contract expiring upon the conclusion of the season.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals and head coach Peter Laviolette have agreed to mutually part ways.https://t.co/gb9IHQu1Ol
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 14, 2023
Washington Capitals, Peter Laviolette Part Ways
For the Capitals under Laviolette, they had a very respectable 115-68-27 regular season record. Laviolette was hired before the start of the 2020-21 season after previous Head Coach Todd Reirden was let go. For the first two seasons under Laviolette, the Capitals saw first-round playoff exits. However, the Capitals need something to kickstart them. It has been a struggle in Washington for a couple of years. Since the 2018 Stanley Cup Win under Head Coach Barry Trotz and an aging roster, it is time for a change.
What Does the Future Hold in Store
For Washington, the organization has one major priority, and that is to see Alex Ovechkin chase the record. It can be difficult for the franchise to cater to a superstar and remain competitive on the ice. In contrast, Ovechkin is still quite productive and is not considered a downgrade. At 37, Ovechkin scored 42 goals in 73 games. Going into next year, he is 72 goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s regular season goal total record of 894. Furthermore, Ovechkin is still a top threat on the power play and should continue as such for a couple of years. The Capitals did make moves that suggest they want to be competitive. The acquisition of Rasmus Sandin could end up being a huge win for the organization. They still have a cup-winning goalie, Darcy Kuemper, between the pipes.
According to Sportsnet, two possible candidates to replace Laviolette, include Spencer Carbery and Jeff Halpern. Carbery is a former Washington assistant who now works for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Meanwhile, Halpern is a former captain, who won two cups under Jon Cooper’s staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Maybe a new coach is just what the organization could use to inject some life back into the lineup.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
