Capitals HC Peter Laviolette reportedly on the hot seat
Peter Laviolette has typically had a short shelf life in every one of his four previous head coaching stops prior to the Washington Capitals.
Once in line for a contract extension in Washington, it now appears Laviolette’s future with the team is very much in question as the Capitals are six points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
“I think the other thing that’s really happening there in Washington is all of a sudden there’s a little bit of uncertainty about Peter Laviolette,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said during a recent appearance on “The Jeff Marek Show.” “I thought…he was going to get an extension because they were talking about it early in the year and that trail has gone cold. I think we’re all sitting here and wondering what does that mean? Where are we going in this direction? Obviously, we don’t have clarity yet but I think some of us are beginning to wonder about it a little bit more.”
Laviolette, who’s in the final year of his contract, has led the Capitals to just three playoff wins in two seasons — both of which were first-round exits.
Washington had won five straight division titles before his arrival and has subsequently finished second and fourth, respectively, in his two seasons. The team is on pace to finish in sixth place this year.
Laviolette has never coached more than five full seasons with any team he’s been with. He was fired after two seasons with the New York Islanders (2001-03) and five seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes (2003-08) before being let go three games into his fifth season with the Philadelphia Flyers (2009-14) and then fired midway through his sixth season with the Nashville Predators (2014-20).
The 58-year-old Laviolette has a 751-498-25-148 record over 21 seasons with 13 playoff appearances and one Stanley Cup title. He has the eight-most wins of any head coach in NHL history.
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