The Washington Capitals missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season. That cost head coach Adam Oates, who was fired, and general manager George McPhee, whose contract won’t be renewed.
McPhee hired Oates before the 2012-13 NHL season, and Oates led the Capitals to a first-place finish in the Southeast Division. Oates couldn’t replicate the success this season, though, as Washington finished with a 38-30 record, last in the Metropolitan Division.
“George has been a terrific, longtime executive for our franchise, and I’m grateful for his commitment to the Capitals organization for the past 17 years,” owner Ted Leonsis said Saturday in a team-issued statement, via ESPN.com.
“We are also appreciative of Adam’s efforts and thank him for his devotion, work ethic and contributions to the Capitals the past two seasons,” Leonsis later added. “He is a smart, tactical coach who improved the performance of several of our players. He is a Hall of Fame player who we believe will be a longtime coach in the NHL. We will help him in whatever way we are able and wish him well.
“This is an important time for our organization, and I feel a change is needed in order to get us back to being a top-echelon team that competes for the Stanley Cup.”
The Capitals haven’t named replacements for Oates and McPhee.
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