Here is the extent of Dale Hunter’s experience behind an NHL bench: 0
In other words, there is none. Hunter spent 19 years as a player, one year as a director of player development with the Capitals and then 11 as the coach and co-owner of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. To be sure, Hunter coached an incredible wealth of talent – from Patrick Kane and Rick Nash to John Carlson and Corey Perry. But why does Washington general manager George McPhee discount experience at the highest level?
“Because as I’ve said before, coaching’s coaching, and he’s been coaching at a good level and at a high level.,” McPhee said. “The same questions were asked of Bruce [Boudreau] when he came here, and he had an outstanding record. The man’s played in the league for 19 years. He’s played for a lot of coaches. Dale really understands this game. He knows two things – farming and hockey. He’s really got them both.”
It doesn’t hurt that McPhee was in regular contact with Hunter over the years. There’s a reason Carlson ended up in London after Washington drafted him out of the USHL in 2008 to gain a year of development. McPhee even phoned Hunter last February when mulling a trade offer for Florida defenseman Dennis Wideman, who had also played under Hunter with the Knights.
“He doesn’t have any NHL coaching experience but he’s done amazing at the junior level and obviously his career speaks for itself,” Wideman said. “He’s a guy that gets respect no matter where he goes and I don’t expect it be any different here.”
McPhee insisted that Hunter will have full control over on-ice operations. If he wants to run lineup ideas by McPhee, fine. But those decisions will ultimately be Hunter’s alone. And, yes, it is nice to bring back a former team captain who still retains cache with long-time Caps fans. One current Washington player knows that better than most.
“I would think for anyone watching the Caps in his era he was such a warrior on the ice,” said Caps center Jeff Halpern, born in the District, raised in suburban Maryland and from a family that held season tickets at the old Capital Centre. “Anyone likes a guy who fights for his teammates and sticks up for his teammates, plays as tough as he is. But hopefully what people know about him – or at least remember – is just how good a player he is.
Halpern had a deeper connection with Hunter, though. He was a sort of pet project for Hunter after he retired following the 1998-99 season. As director of player development for Washington, he was a sounding board for players in the organization. Halpern, a 23-year-old rookie at the time, took full advantage.
“We had a real veteran team then and I thought it was an unbelievable asset for me to be able to have someone to talk to after games and practices when he was around,” Halpern said. “I remember getting texts and hints. I think it was a supportive role, but it was an honest role and a lot of times with coaches on teams it’s hard to manage 20 personalities. So I was lucky enough to have what I consider a Hall-of-Famer and a guy who did a million different great things for this league, someone to learn from. He’s an incredibly smart hockey man.”
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