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Washington Capitals: Reid Cashman promoted as coach

By Ron Juckett

VILLACH, AUSTRIA - MARCH 08: Goalkeeper Bernhard Starkbaum stops a shot by Reid Cashman of Linz during the Erste-Bank EHL match between EC Rekord Fenster VSV and EHC LIWEST Linz at Stadthalle Villach on March 8, 2011 in Villach, Austria. (Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images)
VILLACH, AUSTRIA - MARCH 08: Goalkeeper Bernhard Starkbaum stops a shot by Reid Cashman of Linz during the Erste-Bank EHL match between EC Rekord Fenster VSV and EHC LIWEST Linz at Stadthalle Villach on March 8, 2011 in Villach, Austria. (Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden promotes Reid Cashman from Hershey to his staff. Meet the newest member of the Caps staff.

Rookie Washington Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirden made his first hire on Friday night. Like himself, he promoted from within tapping Reid Cashman as an assistant.

Cashman is young, 35. Like his new boss, he played defense. However, unlike Reirden, Cashman was more offensive-minded. He spent the last two seasons as an assistant for the Hershey Bears. The kids, he knows well.

Although Cashman never made the NHL, he enjoyed four pro seasons bouncing between the AHL and ECHL. He spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators organizations before spending one last year in Austria then retiring.

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Hired immediately by his alma mater Quinnipiac College as an assistant in 2011, Cashman spent four years before earning a promotion to associate coach. After one more year, the Caps nabbed him for the Bears staff in 2016. He has never been a head coach.

But, his resume is strong for his age.

When Cashman played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2008-09, Reirden became his head coach during the second half of the year. Guess, he liked what he saw.

Cashman replaces the departed Lane Lambert. As with Reirden before, the defense is his assignment.

A quick check of his own numbers says Cashman was an excellent passer and capable of quarterbacking the power play. At Quinnipiac, he averaged early an assist per game from the blue line his last three years. As a sophomore in 2005, he scored 13 goals while helping on 32 others in 37 games. You get noticed when you average over a point a night.

To be fair, Quinnipiac jumped into the ECAC from the AHA his final two seasons.

Cashman, in school, was not afraid to be physical. He racked up 242 penalty minutes in four years. In his Austrian season, he sat in the box for 72 minutes in 50 games.

His offensive abilities are a perfect fit for John Carlson. Already a top two-way blue-liner, he can benefit further from Cashman’s passing skills. Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey will benefit too. Both played under him the last two years in Hershey.

Next: Niskanen Caps defensive glue

If the Caps choose not to bring another veteran defender to replace Brooks Orpik, Reid Cashman’s work with Djoos and Bowey is crucial. As they take the vet’s ice time for the Washington Capitals, having a familiar face to teach helps. Because, there is a Stanley Cup to defend.

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