Capitals move on from Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Forsythe
The Washington Capitals have agreed with assistant coaches Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Forsythe to part ways.
Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said in a press release from the Caps:
“We want to sincerely thank Kevin and Blaine for their efforts and contributions to the Capitals during their respective tenures and wish them all the best moving forward. Blaine has been a dedicated member of our organization for 17 seasons and was instrumental in helping the franchise capture its first Stanley Cup in 2018.”
Forsythe joined the Capitals as a video coach prior to the 2006-07 season and I was today years old when I found this out. He served in that role for two years before being promoted to an amateur scout in 2008-09. He returned to the Capitals coaching staff in 2009-10 as an assistant coach, a position he held for 14 seasons.
McCarthy spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Capitals as Peter Laviolette’s right hand man. He was hired on Oct. 21, 2020. McCarthy has coached professionally for 33 seasons including stints with Laviolette in Carolina, Philadelphia, and Nashville following an 11 year playing career.
Assistant coach Scott Allen, goaltending coach Scott Murray, assistant coach for video Brett Leonhardt and video coordinator Emily Engel Natzke will return to the teams coaching staff next season.
McCarthy leaving was no shocker. He usually goes where Laviolette goes. Forsythe leaving was a long time coming. After being a top power play architect for his first couple years, the Caps power play has gotten bad over the last few seasons.
They need a new face to fix the power play as the Caps look to spend this offseason getting younger and faster. This year the Caps power play could’ve been worse but they were still middle of the pack with a success rate of 21.2 percent.
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Overall this was a good move and the guys and girl that are returning to the coaching staff next season are good folks that can help whoever the new bench boss is right the ship.