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Washington Capitals rumors: Todd Reirden to interview with Panthers

By Dave Stevenson |
Jan 11, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz (L) yells from behind the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz (L) yells from behind the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Capitals associate head coach Todd Reirden will get an interview with the Florida Panthers for their vacant head coaching position. 

Part of the curse of being a very good team is everyone wants to hire your guys. The Washington Capitals are no different, as they nearly lost both associate head coach Todd Reirden and assistant coach Lane Lambert last offseason.

This offseason, they might not be so lucky. Reirden has already gotten serious considerations for head coaching positions with the Buffalo Sabres and the Los Angeles Kings. The latest team to show interest in him is the Florida Panthers, according to Frank Servelli of TSN. He also notes Reirden remains a candidate to be the Sabres’ next head coach.

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The Capitals associate head coach got promoted to his current position to keep him from leaving. However, one would think Reirden would leave for a better paying head coaching job. Though at this stage in his career, he shouldn’t accept an AHL head coaching job. Reirden can do much better and it wouldn’t really help his resume.

Over his career, he has coached for the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and the latter’s AHL team. Reirden also has experience coaching college hockey. He’s done a terrific job coaching defensemen and the power play. Reirden got hired by the Capitals about a week before Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik signed with the team in free agency, so his presence likely factored into their decisions.

Next: End of an Era?

Losing him would be a huge loss. Lambert is a very good coach, but he’s not quite at Reirden’s level. It would be yet another replacement the Caps have to find. But at the same time, you sort of hope Reirden catches on somewhere as a head coach. He deserves a chance.

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