Former Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love inked a contract with the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons to become their new head coach last week. The deal will see Love behind Shanghai’s bench for the rest of this season and all of next year.
According to a recent exclusive interview with Love by RG’s Daria Tuboltseva, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played a role in helping Love secure the job. The 40-year-old Russian legend put a good word in for Love, who the Caps dismissed in October following an NHL investigation into his personal conduct.
“Ovechkin spoke very highly of Mitch,” Dragons CEO Sergey Belykh told Tuboltseva. “Sasha said, ‘If you have a chance to reach an agreement with him, do it.'”
Love served as an assistant coach with the Capitals for two seasons, primarily guiding the team’s defensemen. He came on board with the club as part of Spencer Carbery’s initial staff ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
“To get that kind of recommendation from arguably one of the best players to ever play this game means a lot to me,” Love said. “I will be forever thankful to Alex Ovechkin for that recommendation.”
Love also commented on Ovechkin’s staying power in the NHL. The league’s all-time goal-scoring leader is playing in his 21st season with the Capitals this year.
“You do not become that good without loving the game,” Love said. “For him to play at such a high level at his age, in the best league in the world, is remarkable.”
Love was officially introduced to the Dragons on Thursday night and took control of his first practice with the team on Friday. “I can’t wait to prove people wrong,” he said in a speech to the locker room.
The team also crafted a seemingly AI-generated video of Love being chosen in a Mortal Kombat-esque fighting game to help announce his signing. They will play their first game under his watch on Saturday against Dinamo Minsk.
Ovechkin, who is still currently employed as an advisor with the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow, has played matchmaker with the KHL and players in the past. Over the last decade-plus, Dynamo has signed former Capitals-affiliated players like Dmitrij Jaskin, Stan Galiev, Jakub Klepis, and Michal Cajkovsky as they sought to continue their pro careers after stints in North America.
Ovechkin’s step to serve as somewhat of an intermediary with a team other than Dynamo and with a coach, in Love’s case, appears to be a first.
