Ray Bennett leaves Islanders, joins Capitals as assistant coach

The 64-year-old Bennett joins the Capitals after one season as an assistant with the New York Islanders. Earlier in the day, the Islanders announced he would not be back with the team in 2026-27.

Before getting behind the bench on Long Island, the Innisfail, Alta., native was an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche for eight seasons, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Bennett also served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues between 2007 and 2017, along with the Los Angeles Kings between 1999 and 2006.

The Capitals finished the 2025-26 season with a 43-30-9 record and 95 points, finishing fourth in the Metropolitan Division and falling four points shy of a Wildcard spot  in the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin led the team in goals with 32 and points with 64, while forward Dylan Strome had a team-leading 39 assists.

On Wednesday, the Capitals signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year, $6.5-million contract extension that will pay him an annual average value of $3.25 million.

The 27-year-old blueliner recorded one goal and 10 assists for 11 points, averaging 19:51 of ice time in 47 games with the Capitals and San Jose Sharks in 2025-26. He was acquired by Washington in a trade last March for a 2026 fourth-round pick.