The Washington Capitals did the right thing. Success isn’t about being the quickest coach to win 200 games. It’s about the postseason. Sticking around is not about being a good guy. It’s about handling superstars.
Once the Caps’ Alex Ovechkin was caught on TV cursing coach Bruce Boudreau after he was benched, the end was near. And it came Monday when general manager George McPhee decided to replace Boudreau with former Caps legend Dale Hunter after a week of discussions.
Of course, McPhee said that “I don’t think [Boudreau’s firing] has anything to do with Alex Ovechkin. … It’s our whole team. It’s not an individual.”
Sure, and I have some great waterfront property for sale that might or might not be swampland.
No matter the reason, it was a great move for Washington to get Hunter even though he has no NHL coaching experience. Of course, it should have happened six months ago after Boudreau’s team was swept out of the playoffs.
Will the coaching change be enough to revive a team with Stanley Cup expectations that persistently exits the postseason early? Certainly Hunter will ensure the Caps give their best effort.
“He was downright mean [as a player] sometimes,” said McPhee, whose deadpan delivery makes it hard to tell when he’s joking.
Well, Hunter was sometimes mean on the ice; it’s hard to forget his 21-game suspension for a blind-side hit on Pierre Turgeon in the playoffs in 1993. But he also was a solid player who developed into a standout coach with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Hunter was with the Caps from 1987 to 1999. He scored perhaps the most famous goal in franchise history to beat the Flyers in the first round of the 1988 playoffs, and his No. 32 jersey is one of four Washington has retired. For five seasons, he acted as the Caps’ captain.
Ovechkin has that role these days, and McPhee said he will keep it. But Hunter should choose whether Ovechkin remains so and no one else. Ovechkin never has seemed like a good fit, so this would be an ideal time to change. Indeed, Ovechkin should offer up the “C” to the new coach to decide.
McPhee said the players no longer listened to Boudreau after four seasons. Well, Hunter certainly will be noticed in the locker room.
“We’ve got their attention now,” McPhee said. “When players aren’t responding, you have to make a change. … Bruce emptied the tank, and he’s pushed every button he could. And if it worked for a while, it’s not working now.”
Said Hunter: “The players will know when I’m mad at them.”
Boudreau was a refreshing newcomer when he arrived from the minor leagues four years ago. McPhee’s confident Hunter can make the same jump.
“Coaching’s coaching, and he’s been coaching at a good level and high level,” McPhee said. “The same questions were asked of Bruce when he came here.”
Boudreau took a bad team to good. The question is whether Hunter can elevate a good team to great. It’s the harder move.
Then again, Hunter doesn’t back down from a tough challenge.
“We’re going to be a hard team to play against,” he said.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
