After a three-week search, the Washington Capitals have found their new head coach. Peter Liviolet Capitals will be the 19th coach in franchise history and Alex Ovechkin will be the seventh (15 seasons) of the era. For Ovechkin, Laviolet will only be the second coach he has played under who has previous coaching experience in the NHL.
The first news came from Elliott Friedman.
Listening to Peter Liviolet will be WASH’s next head coach
– Elliott Friedman (@Friedignic) September 15, 2020
Updated, 8:21 AM: Darren Drager says it’s a three-year contract.
Peter Liviolet agrees to a 3-year deal for the Washington Capitals coach.
– Darren Drager (@DarenDrager) September 15, 2020
Updated, 8:28 AM: By Pierre LeBron, we have a rough idea about his salary.
Liviolet still had another year of 2.5 2.5 million left on its old Predators deal. I was further told that the Caps are liking it all. The genetic hook is off. https://t.co/YbKiqTrQCe
– Pierre LeBron (@PierreWillebran) September 15, 2020
Said the deal is excellent for M4M every year https://t.co/0o17lMtm2f
– Pierre LeBron (@ PierreWillebran) September 15, 2020
When Brian McClean fired Todd Reddon on August 23, the general manager of Capitals expressed his desire for a head coach who could “push a few buttons” after a second consecutive loss in the first round of the playoffs.
“The organization has higher expectations for our team, and we felt that a new approach to leadership was needed,” Mallela added in a team release.
Flaming Liviolet will definitely fit that bill. Franklin, a native of Massachusetts, coached a total of 1,210 games in the NHL during his 18-year coaching career in which he looked behind the bench for the New York Islands, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators. His record is 637-425-25-123. Liviolet, who played in most of the minor leagues in his career, played 12 NHL games as a player, all for the New York Rangers in the 1988-89 season.
As a coach, Leviolet led the Carolina Hurricanes to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2006. He also coached the Philadelphia Flyers (2009-10) and the Nashville Predators (2016–17) on two other occasions in the Stanley Cup Final. He is only the fourth coach in NHL history to lead three different teams in a Stanley Cup final.
Nashville Predators fired Laviolet in January following missing team placements. The team had unusually special teams until January. The coach has one year left on his contract as the Capitals were allowed to interview Liviolet from Predators.
“Under the leadership of Peter and Kevin, our organization has reached unprecedented heights – from the change in our franchise to the Stanley Cup Final to the President’s Trophy and our first two Central Division titles,” David Poyle, general manager of Predators, said in a press release. Then. “His passion for the game, his ability to motivate the team and his drive to excel make this difficult decision. On behalf of the organization as a whole, I would like to thank Peter and Kevin for all the contributions Nashville Predators have made over the past five-and-a-half seasons. “
Liviolet was one of three clear finalists for the Capitals job, including Mike Babcock and Gerard Gallant. Former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau also spoke to the capitals early in the process, according to Athletic’s Tariq al-Bashir.
Leviolet has switched teams quickly, while he also has a history of hurting club offenses, according to Micah Black McCurdy.
Liviolate, accidental (not accidental) persistent and causes serious damage to the offenses of his teams. With the right coach, the Prades Cup can be at fault or close. pic.twitter.com/ohgPwT0CuA
– Micah Black M Cur Curie (@ Effective Math) November 29, 2019
Leviolet has also had some problematic interactions with players. Leviolet hit Vile Leno in the head while coaching the Flyers.
– Coach Sports # BLM (VOVECHKlN) August 31, 2020
“There are a lot of emotions in the game. The coach gets fired and things happen. Leno later told ESPN. “I don’t think Peter tried to hit me, and in the video he looks even worse than that… Peter was a very passionate and emotional coach. Made it good, but sometimes such a thing happened. However, it should not happen. “
Leviolet later explained to the Tennessee: “I was trying to motivate my team and I went to punch my hand. I put the back of his helmet. In no way was it meant as a physical abuse that I have never had any physical abuse with a player. “
Daniel Carcillo also said that his former coach was “one of those people who prefers to be a ‘rah-rah’ person, when you know he’s never going to fight, he’ll send you to fight.”
Last night, we talked # Preds In the recent recession, Kyle Turis returned to the lineup, gave a Kobashi Maru, and CarBombBoom13 Details about abuse issues that come to light around hockey and more (starting at 16:05).
List: https://t.co/z8PoTIuMTq
– Neutral Zone (NeutralZone 1045) December 5, 2019
“The first (Carcillo) suggested that I use my power position inside the locker room to bully or challenge 3 players to go there and fight,” Laviolet replied. “It can’t be further from the truth.”
The Capitals will hope that Levilette’s enthusiasm can come out positively and push the team to the next level after a scuffle in the playoffs two years after winning the Statley Cup. Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Beckstrom are entering the twilight of their careers and this is the team’s last big chance to win the Stanley Cup again with the current core of the team.
Updated, 9:31 AM: Capitals has made it official:
The Washington Capital has named Peter Laviolet as the team’s head coach, senior vice president and general manager Brian McLane.
“Peter is a successful NHL head coach who has won the Stanley Cup and he brings a wealth of experience to our team,” said Mac Clay. “We think he is a great communicator who will inspire our players to play with passion, structure and discipline, while helping our young players reach their potential. In addition, he is a highly qualified person, highly respected for his coaching lineage, all of which make him the ideal person to win our team for the Stanley Cup. “
“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead this hockey club,” Laviolet said. “This is a winning organization with high expectations. I look forward to coaching this tremendous group of players and bringing my experience and vision to the team. ”
