As Expected, The Caps Have Named Todd Reirden Head Coach

NHL - The Washington Capitals have named Todd Reirden the team’s head coach, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

“We feel that the time is right for Todd to lead our hockey club,” said MacLellan. “Based on his coaching experience, communication abilities, his approach to the game and the respect he commands in our locker room, we feel that Todd has earned this opportunity. Todd has played an integral part in helping lead our team to the Stanley Cup championship and we feel his appointment as head coach will enable our organization to transition seamlessly into next season and beyond.”

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This comes as a shock to no one, but now it’s official- Todd Reirden has taken over the head coaching duties of the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.

Reirden was always the coach in waiting for the Caps, which is why Trotz was not given an extension prior to this season. The Caps didn’t let him interview for head coaching jobs last offseason because they wanted to replace Trotz with him. After the Caps won the Cup and Trotz’s extension auto-kicked in, it put everyone in a tricky situation, because Trotz wanted more money and the Caps had already promised the job to Reirden, hence Trotz resigning. So it all kinda worked out in a weird way- we got a Cup, Trotz is getting paid, and Reirden got the job he was promised.

And it doesn’t hurt Reirden is beloved by everyone and is an awesome coach:

In his four previous seasons with the Capitals, Reirden was responsible for the team’s defensemen. During that span, the Capitals have posted a record of 205-89-34 and ranked second in goals against average (2.45). This season, Washington defensemen combined for 176 points, including 138 at even strength. Capitals defenseman John Carlson led the NHL with 68 points, marking the fourth time in the last 10 seasons a defenseman has finished in the top-10 among defensemen scoring, the second to finish in the top-two and the first to finish first under Reirden.
During the 2016-17 season, the Capitals ranked first in the NHL in goals against per game (2.16), marking Washington’s lowest goals against per game in franchise history. In addition, the Capitals ranked fourth in shots against per game (27.8) and the Capitals held their opponents to the fewest goals in an 82-game season in franchise history (182). During the 2015-16, the Capitals held their opponents to 30 or fewer shots in 15 consecutive games (10/15-11/18), marking the longest streak for Washington since 1984-85. Reirden helped lead the Capitals to the fifth-ranked power play in the NHL (21.9) and Washington defensemen ranked tied for sixth in the League in even-strength points (122).

He’s a big reason Carlson has developed into a top tier defenseman, a big reason the Caps were able to shut down the Pens, Lightning, and Knights, and will have no problem stepping in to the full time gig. Trotz was good, but everyone knew he had lost the team and front office a bit. Reirden is the perfect coach and the Caps won’t miss a beat with him.