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Despite a late push in their season, the Washington Capitals failed to earn a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, missing for the second time in the last four seasons.
The bulk of the speculation now surrounding the Capitals is the future of captain Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, who is 40 and eligible for unrestricted free agency.
However, in the wake of their disappointing finish to the season that failed to yield a postseason berth, the Capitals have officially announced a change behind the bench.
The Washington Capitals Are Moving On From Assistant Coach Kirk Muller
The Capitals have announced that assistant coach Kirk Muller will not have his contract renewed and that he’s in fact requested to seek other NHL opportunities.
In a statement released today, Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick explained that the club respects Muller’s desire to seek other opportunities, and wish him and his family the best.
“Kirk has expressed his desire to explore other opportunities within the National Hockey League, and we respect and support his decision,” Patrick explained. “We thank Kirk for his dedication, professionalism, and the many contributions he made during his three years with our organization. He is an experienced and highly respected coach whose work ethic, leadership, and commitment to player development had a meaningful impact on our team both on and off the ice. We wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
Muller, who had a lengthy career as an NHL player, had been on Washington’s coaching staff since 2023.
Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker