National Hockey League Champion Capitals Name Reirden To Replace Trotz As Coach

Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published June 30, 2018 | 02:00 AM

The National Hockey League champion Washington Capitals named Todd Reirden as their new coach on Friday, 11 days after Barry Trotz resigned following the club's first-ever championship campaign.

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2018 ) :The National Hockey League champion Washington Capitals named Todd Reirden as their new coach on Friday, 11 days after Barry Trotz resigned following the club's first-ever championship campaign.

Trotz coached the final year of his contract with Reirden as an associate coach, one the Capitals refused to let rival clubs talk with about vacancies, a sign he was seen as an heir to Trotz.

When the Capitals defeated the first-year Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Final to win the Stanley Cup earlier this month, Trotz had a contract extension clause activated, but for well below what top NHL coaches were making.

When Trotz and the team could not reach terms on a now deal, the coach resigned and last Friday signed with the New York Islanders, a division rival of the Capitals.

That left the Capitals to promote Reirden, 47, who was an assistant coach from 2014-16 and associate coach the past two seasons with responsibility for the power play unit and defensemen.

"We feel that the time is right for Todd to lead our hockey club," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "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." Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, named the Most Valuable Player of the NHL Final after leading the NHL with 49 goals last season, praised Reirden last week.

"He's a guy who is a very good communicator, very good specialist, and has lots of respect from us," Ovechkin said.

Reirden played 183 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers and Phoenix Coyotes.