Head coach Todd Reirden will not return for the 2020-21 season, the team announced Sunday morning.
Elliotte Friedman first broke the news:
Hearing Washington is making a coaching change. Todd Reirden is out.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 23, 2020
Reirden joined the Capitals organization as an assistant coach in 2014 after his dismissal from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Reirden had been groomed to take over the head coaching position for years as other clubs considered him for the role as well. He took over as head coach upon Barry Trotz’s exit following the team’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship.
In 151 games with Reirden as head coach, the Capitals held a regular-season record of 89-46-16 (.64 points percentage) and a playoff record of 4-8 (.33 win/loss). Reirden’s dismissal comes on the heels of an embarrassing showing against Barry Trotz’s Islanders, a 4-1 gentleman’s sweep.
The Washington Capitals have relieved head coach Todd Reirden of his coaching duties, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
“We have higher expectations for our team, and we felt a fresh approach in leadership was necessary,” said MacLellan. “We would like to thank Todd for all of his hard work and efforts with our organization. Todd has been a big part of our team for more than half a decade, including our Stanley Cup run in 2018, and we wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”
Reirden, 49, was the 18th head coach in franchise history and led the club to a 89-46-16 record from 2018-20.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB
This story has been updated.
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