Boudreau out, Hunter in!

**(419)BlackNGold** · Nov-28-2011, 12:19 PM

Great!

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=381460

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals have fired coach Bruce Boudreau, who won 200 games faster than any coach in modern NHL history but stumbled regularly in the playoffs despite a talented lineup featuring two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin.

Boudreau was replaced by former Capitals captain Dale Hunter, who was scheduled to lead Monday's practice and make his debut behind the bench Tuesday night when Washington hosts the St. Louis Blues to begin a three-game homestand.

Hired four years ago, Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season with the Capitals but just 17-20 in the playoffs. This season he tried a new approach, emphasizing accountability and the willingness to bench his star players -- team captain Ovechkin included -- as punishment for subpar performances.

The Capitals started 7-0 -- a franchise record for consecutive wins to begin a season -- but have since slumped badly. They have lost six of eight, including a 5-1 beatdown Saturday night to a Buffalo Sabres team missing nine regular players. Ovechkin has only one goal in the last eight games.

The 51-year-old Hunter played for the Capitals from 1987 to 1999, the last five seasons as team captain, and is one of four players to have his jersey (No. 32) retired by the franchise. He played 19 NHL seasons and is the only player in league history with 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes. His career total of 3,563 penalty minutes ranks second all-time.

Hunter has coached the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League for 11 seasons, compiling a 451-189-23-24 record. He became the fastest coach in OHL history to reach 300 and 400 career wins. Dale's brother Mark Hunter - who is also the Knights co-owner - will assume the general manager and coaching duties in London as per a team release.

Boudreau turned around a moribund franchise when he was hired in 2007, leading the Capitals to the first of four consecutive Southeast Division titles and winning the league's coach of the year award in 2008. Nicknamed "Gabby," he bought an offensive philosophy that meshed well with Ovechkin and the team's other "young guns" such as Alexander Semin and Mike Green, but he was never able to get Washington beyond the second round of the playoffs.

Boudreau had the team adopt a more defensive mindset during a losing streak last season, but it failed to pay dividends in the spring. The Capitals were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the post-season.

Boudreau's assistant coaches -- Dean Evason, Bob Woods and Blaine Forsythe -- will remain in their posts under Hunter.

**(419)BlackNGold** · Nov-28-2011, 12:25 PM

also...

The Carolina Hurricanes have fired head coach Paul Maurice and replaced him with former Montreal Canadiens assistant coach Kirk Muller.

**exNCite** · Nov-28-2011, 02:52 PM

Never liked Boudreau anyway.

**Beezy** · Nov-28-2011, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by exNCite

Never liked Boudreau anyway.

Are you a Caps fan?

Well if Ovie blows up now it's probably because he was being a baby and trying to get the guy fired. It's kinda weak but the Pens basically did the same thing so whatever. I hope they stay broke tho.

**exNCite** · Nov-29-2011, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Beezy

Are you a Caps fan?

Well if Ovie blows up now it's probably because he was being a baby and trying to get the guy fired. It's kinda weak but the Pens basically did the same thing so whatever. I hope they stay broke tho.

Hell no, Beezy. Don't insult me.

I watched a segment once on Boudreau when the Craps were in a long losing streak (ESPN? NHL? Forget which) to begin the season. He was awful. Would never, ever want to play for a coach who acted like he did. It appears that neither did the current players.

**Beezy** · Nov-29-2011, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by exNCite

Hell no, Beezy. Don't insult me.

I watched a segment once on Boudreau when the Craps were in a long losing streak (ESPN? NHL? Forget which) to begin the season. He was awful. Would never, ever want to play for a coach who acted like he did. It appears that neither did the current players.

Heheh I know I'm just thinking no duh the guy coached for the Craps of course you don't like him. I don't like the new guy either. I don't even know that much about him.

**(419)BlackNGold** · Dec-01-2011, 12:06 PM

Boudreau named head coach in Anaheim after Randy Carlyle is let go.

**Kipper** · Dec-01-2011, 04:08 PM

Boudreau will probably make for a better coach of the Ducks than he was with the Craps.

Question I have is in what way shape or form is Dale Hunter going to be good for a soft team of offensive prima donnas? Is he going to teach them his specialized art of cheapshots from behind?

I've felt that the Crapitals if they were ever going to advance to the Stanley Cup they need to stop trying to make their abundance of 1 way players play 2 way games they aren't capable of playing and surround those guys with 2 way talent and strengthen their defense. Basically let Ovechkin, and Semin and Backstrom be the 1 dimensionsal offensive players (Greene too) and make the rest of the roster tougher and grittier. If Ovechkin isn't nearing the top of the league in scoring then he's useless to your team. Forcing him to play anything that resembles defense hurts his strengths.

Not sure Dale Hunter can pull this off long term with this roster constructed as it is