Former Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden published a statement to the media Sunday afternoon following his release from the team earlier in the day.
Statement from Todd Reirden: pic.twitter.com/hDK2XNjhqb
— Olivia Garvey (@OliviaABC7) August 23, 2020
The Capitals relieved Todd Reirden of his coaching duties, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced Sunday morning.
“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.”
After firing head coach Todd Reirden on Sunday morning, Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan told the media that “we need an experienced coach, [one who will] press buttons on some players.” He added that the team is “going to find the best” man for the job.
This is from last October when then Caps coach Todd Reirden gave Alex Luey a fist bump and the player of the game helmet after the game. Classy gesture. pic.twitter.com/bk38DmAHrp
— Christine Simpson (@SNChrisSimpson) August 23, 2020
Reirden, 49, was the 18th head coach in franchise history and led the club to a 89-46-16 record from 2018-20. He had two seasons remaining on his contract, according to The Athletic’s Craig Custance.
Reirden was part of the Capitals’ coaching staff for six seasons, including two as an assistant from 2014-2016 and two as an associate from 2016-18. He worked with the defense on Barry Trotz’s staff from 2014-2018 and was promoted after Trotz resigned on June 18, 2018.
The Capitals ended the regular-season by going 19-16-3, including 8-9-3 in their final 20 games, before the NHL paused due to COVID-19 after a 26-6-5 start to the season. Their average of 3.44 goals-against per game after December 22 was the most of any of the 24 qualifying round teams. The Capitals arguably came up short of expectations in Reirden’s first two seasons as head coach, falling in the first round to teams they should have beaten and getting outplayed and, some argue, out-coached in both series. Reirden did not want to discuss his job security after the team’s 4-0 season-ending loss in Game 5 on Thursday.
He tried and he didn’t succeed. Some assistants are better off staying assistants. I think that the depth of offensive power that the GM and HC thought they had they did not. Yes they need an experienced HC like Trots and they are going to have to pay him. Also they need to unload some salary and get younger and faster.
Well said, Druid 👊
Not all assistants have the ability to be head coaches and sad to say Todd was one of those. Now the owner and GM are going to have to do what they should have done with Trots and pay an experienced HC. Now with a new HC let’s start the rebuild.
Should NEVER had let Trotz go!!! Bad move ownership!
I don’t think you can find a conscious soul that would argue against you at this point in time.
I was not surprised by the outcome of this 19 – 20 season. The core players are aging, and btw under contract, this is not going to be an easy fix. And now to extend Ovie’s contract is another interesting topic! The window is definitely closing on this current roster as constructed.
I think that the best thing to do at this time would be let the window close and start a rebuild. The rebuild will take some time as the cupboard is almost bare and young, fast talent is hard to find lying along the road. Let players leave after their contract is over except for the big draw in Ovie. Also cut some of the dead woon now…..Panik, Hagelin, Kempny and Jensen, let Gudas and Dillon walk, and Im on the fence about Boyd and Kovalchuk it was nice to have you but age and salary say you are gone down the pike.. Bring up young guys to play the 3rd and 4th line and see what they can do. If all else fails then next spring/summer when the draft is we get a high pick. Also have to look at who this team is going to lose in the expansion draft….Oshie as much as he would be missed for his scoring and locker room spark hs salary is good to see go and the same with Orlov good to see the salary go.
A real rebuild would mean trading real pieces for picks and young prospects and to forget about the playoffs for a few years at least.
I bet they retool instead. I think the telling sign of this is what they do about goaltending. If they bring in a vet who can start 50 60 percent of the games, then they are trying one (two?) last time(s). If they are going Sammy/VV in goal then I think it’s the start of a rebuild.
Retool or rebuild either can be done without trading real pieces or young prospects or picks. And yes it may take time but not as long as some think. If they shed salary and unproductive pieces adn draft wisely and move up in the draft from their normal slot of 26-30 and can get something in the teens then the rebuild could tale even less. Their best chip is a UFA which they should have traded 2 years ago bot picks and a player or 2 and then signed a vet goaltender to cover the slot until either of the young goalies were ready.