Capitals promote Brian MacLellan to president of hockey operations

MacLellan, 64, will oversee all hockey functions in his newly adjusted role as both GM and president. The Capitals made a couple of additional altercations to their organizational structure in the process, as they’ve also promoted Chris Patrick to associate general manager and Dick Patrick as chairman of the team.

MacLellan has served as the Capitals GM and senior vice president of hockey operations since 2014-15, replacing longtime general manager George McPhee after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. Since then, the Capitals made the playoffs eight seasons in a row, a streak that was only just broken when they missed the playoffs in 2022-23, along with back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and a franchise record five straight Metropolitan Division titles from 2016 to 2020. He played a crucial role in assembling the 2017-18 Caps team, who would go on to finally win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Since being appointed GM, MacLellan has become the most successful GM in Caps history, and his .640 win percentage is the third highest in NHL history among GMs with at least 500 games at the helm of a franchise. That .640 win percentage for the Caps also ranks them third in the league since 2014-15 after the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. They also have the fourth most playoff victories since 2014-15 with 44.

Before assuming his current role as GM, MacLellan served as a scout for the Caps from 2000 to 2003 before being promoted to director of player personnel for the 2004-05 season. He spent five seasons exclusively in that role before he was promoted to assistant general manager in 2009, and then operated in both roles until his promotion to GM in 2014.