By Evan Redmon

July 1, 2018

Everyone Guessed It: Todd Reirden Named Washington Capitals Head Coach

In the worst kept secret in the NHL, Todd Reirden was named head coach of the Washington Capitals on Friday.

There really could have been no one else. Reirden was immensely popular with the players, and his defensive tactics were undoubtedly a big reason why the Caps won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Reidern replaces Barry Trotz, who resigned on June 18, less than two weeks after Alexander Ovechkin raised the cup on the Las Vegas ice (never thought I’d use that phrase, to be honest).

Reidern was essentially a shoe-in

If the Capitals has not won The Cup – perish the thought – the team was already prepared for Reidern to step in. There was no way Trotz was going to get a new contract with anything less than a deep playoff run. GM Brian MacLellan had already indicated that Reirden was on a short list of, oh, about one to get the job.

MacLellan acknowledged that Reidern was a big part of the team’s success. He stated that “Todd has played an integral part in helping lead our team to the Stanley Cup” after the announcement.  “We feel his appointment as head coach will enable our organization to transition seamlessly into next season and beyond.”

⇒Read: Devante Smith-Pelly will spend at least one more season in DC

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