Photo: The Score
The Washington Capitals announced on Tuesday morning that they have hired Toronto Maple Leafs assistant Spencer Carbery to be their next head coach. The two sides agreed to a four-year contract.
“We are extremely pleased to name Spencer as our new head coach,” said Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan. “Spencer is one of the best young coaches in the game who’s had success at every level at which he has coached. We feel his leadership, communication skills, ability to develop players and familiarity with our organization will be a tremendous asset as he makes this next step in his coaching career.”
“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the Washington Capitals,” said Carbery. “I would like to thank the Capitals organization for affording me the opportunity to lead this team. I look forward to working with this group of talented players and building upon the winning culture in place. I would also like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for all their support over the past two years and wish them all the best in the future.”
Washington parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette on April 14 after going 35-37-10 (.488 points percentage) t0 finish 12 points out of a postseason spot in the Eastern Conference in 2022-23. It was the first time in nine seasons where Washington failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The team also reportedly interviewed Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Jeff Halpern and Philadelphia Flyers assistant Brad Shaw for the opening.
GM Brian MacLellan stated after the season that he is looking for a head coach who will give the youth an opportunity and fit in with the team’s veteran core.
Carbery was in charge of Toronto’s power play for the past two seasons. The unit ranked second in the NHL with a 26.6% efficiency over his tenure.
The 41-year-old spent three seasons with the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate, before taking a job on Toronto’s bench. He was named the 26th head coach in franchise history on June 26, 2018, and at the time of his hire, he was the second-youngest coach in the American Hockey League.
Carbery was primed for a move to Washington (as we wrote about here). He was named ECHL Coach of the Year (2014) and was named the AHL’s Most Outstanding coach for the 2020-21 season.
Carbery signed a three-year extension with Washington to remain Hershey’s head coach on April 22, 2021, before Toronto swooped in and hired him as an assistant two months later.
Named head coach of Hershey on June 26, 2018, Carbery led the club to a three-year record of 104-50-9-8, good for a .658 points percentage, including a 53-18-3-2 mark (111 points, .730) in their last 76 regular-season games.
Washington wanted to keep him on before he was signed by Toronto.
By Harrison Brown