Capitals name Trotz coach, MacLellan GM

The Washington Capitals named Barry Trotz coach and promoted Brian MacLellan to senior vice president and general manager, majority owner Ted Leonsis and president Dick Patrick announced Monday.

"I am very excited to join the Washington Capitals and want to thank Ted Leonsis, Dick Patrick and Brian MacLellan for this opportunity," Trotz said. "This is a great organization with a strong foundation and a tremendous fan base. I look forward to working with this group of talented players and the quality front-office staff this team has assembled."

Trotz, 51, becomes the 17th coach in Capitals history after spending 15 seasons as coach of the Nashville Predators. Trotz was the longest-tenured coach in the NHL and the only coach in Predators history. Trotz ranks third in games coached (1,196) and wins (557) with a single franchise. He ranks 15th on the NHL coaching victories list and fourth among active coaches behind Joel Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks; 706), Ken Hitchcock (St. Louis Blues; 657) and Lindy Ruff (Dallas Stars; 611).

Trotz will replace coach Adam Oates, who was fired April 25. MacLellan will replace George McPhee, who did not have his contract renewed. The Capitals were 38-30-14, ninth in the Eastern Conference, and did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.

"We are extremely pleased to name Brian MacLellan the team's general manager and welcome Barry Trotz to Washington as the Capitals coach," Leonsis said. "After conducting an extensive search for a general manager, we determined that Brian was the best candidate to help us reach our ultimate goal, winning the Stanley Cup. We have witnessed his abilities firsthand, and we have tremendous respect for how he manages people and situations. We feel he has relevant, in-depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of our franchise and will be forceful in addressing them. Brian always has displayed tremendous professionalism, passion and commitment to the Capitals. He has his own unique approach, and we are confident in his abilities to lead this organization to new heights.

"We are also excited to welcome Barry back to the Capitals organization. Barry is a highly respected and accomplished coach who brings us a wealth of experience. He possesses high character and the exact leadership qualities we look for in the head coach. He was the only coach we coveted, and we feel he is an ideal fit to help lead our club."

Prior to joining the Predators, Trotz spent five seasons (1992-97) as coach of the Capitals' affiliate in the American Hockey League. He was named coach of the Baltimore Skipjacks in 1992 after one season as an assistant coach. Following a relocation to Portland, Maine, in 1993, he coached the Portland Pirates to two Calder Cup Final appearances during the next four seasons. In 1994-95, Trotz coached Portland to a Calder Cup championship and a league-best 43-27-10 record; he was named AHL Coach of the Year.

MacLellan, 55, becomes the sixth general manager in Capitals history after spending the past 13 seasons with Washington, seven as assistant general manager, player personnel. In his previous role, MacLellan oversaw the professional scouting staff and worked closely with the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, who won the Calder Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010. MacLellan served as a pro scout for the Capitals from 2000-03 and was promoted to director of player personnel, assisting and advising the general manager in all player-related matters.

Trotz was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, awarded annually to the NHL's top coach, twice in the past five seasons and finished in the top five on four other occasions since 2006.

Trotz was given the first of his back-to-back Jack Adams nominations in 2009-10 when he was runner-up for the award after coaching the Predators to a 100-point season (47-29-6). Trotz was again nominated for the award in 2011-12 after coaching the Predators to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference (44-27-11) despite losing 348 man-games due to injury. He won his 500th NHL game on March 30, 2012.

MacLellan won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and had a 10-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings. A forward who played 606 NHL games, MacLellan had 172 goals, 241 assists and 413 points.

"I am extremely honored and excited about the opportunity I have been given with the Capitals," MacLellan said. "Over the course of my career, I have worked in acquiring the necessary skills to excel in this position. We have built a solid foundation, and I look forward to implementing my ideas to get us back to competing for the Stanley Cup. Also, it is a great pleasure to welcome Barry to Washington as the new head coach of the Capitals. Barry's teams have always played with structure, discipline and intensity, and I look forward to him leading us to success for many years to come."