Since the end of the 2016-17 season, Capitals goaltending coach Mitch Korn has been mulling retirement, according to general manager Brian MacLellan.
“I think he’s keeping it open whether he comes back. He’s talked a little bit about a consulting role,” MacLellan said earlier in the offseason. “Mitch wants to spend more time at his home.”
Monday morning, MacLellan announced that Korn would indeed stay with the Capitals, overseeing the organization’s goaltending coaches. This will free up Korn’s schedule and allow him to step back from day-to-day operations.
Hershey Bears assistant goalie coach and Washington Capitals associate goaltending coach, Scott Murray will now take over as the NHL goaltending coach this next season.
“He’s going to be Director of Goaltending,” MacLellan said of Korn. “He wants to cut back on his schedule. We’re in the process of promoting Scott Murray to the NHL team. Mitch will work with Scott and our Hershey guy and the East Coast League.”
Korn participated in Capitals Development Camp last week.
The 2017-18 season will be Mitch Korn’s fourth season with the Capitals and his 27th season in the NHL. Korn is arguably the greatest goaltending coach of all time. Korn has helped push his goaltenders to five Vezina Trophies (Dominik Hasek: 1993-94, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98; Braden Holtby: 2015-16) and eight Vezina Trophy nominations. Korn is the only coach in NHL history to coach a goaltender to a Vezina Trophy with two different teams (Sabres, Capitals).
During his accomplished career, Korn has coached talented goaltending stars like Pekka Rinne, Grant Fuhr, and Tomas Vokoun.
According to MacLellan, the team has “been grooming Scott Murray for a goaltending coaching job, so the transition will happen,” MacLellan said. Losing Korn is not optimal, but his transition to retirement is something the team has been preparing for since last year.
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