The Washington Capitals will soon hire their third coach in the last three calendar years. After the Caps missed the playoffs for the 2023 Stanley Cup this season, Peter Laviolette was dismissed, three years after Todd Reirden was shown the door.

Laviolette was a veteran, an older-guard coach while Reirden was a new-school rookie. So, what kind of coach will Caps GM Brian MacLellan look for this time? 

It’s an interesting question because the Caps’ roster remains stocked full of older veterans such as Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Let’s take a look at some of the candidates and lay some NHL odds on their potential hire:

Capitals Head Coach Odds

Odds are projected by our team of Bookies handicappers for entertainment purposes only. They do not reflect any odds that may be available at legal betting sites or betting apps

Spencer Carbery (+350) 

Although the 41-year-old is an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he is a previous coach of the Capitals’ AHL team in Hershey, Pa. and the word is MacLellan has waited a while on a new hire until Carbery’s working season is over.

Now that he has more NHL bona fides behind a bench, he could be ready to make the jump to head-coach status.

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Todd Nelson (+450)

Currently, the head coach of the Hershey Bears – the Caps’ aforementioned minor-league affiliate – Nelson was once an interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers (2014-15).

His proximity to the Caps’ organization obviously is an asset for a potential promotion.
He also has experience as an assistant with the Dallas Stars. He has a good reputation as a player’s coach.

Jeff Halpern (+500)

Halpern had two stints as a player with the Capitals and currently serves as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Halpern is a native of Maryland, so there would seem to be a fit for many reasons. He has been an assistant with the Lightning for five years now and would seem to be ready for a promotion like this. He knows Ovechkin and Backstrom well, having been a former teammate.

Andrew Brunette (+600) 

The former Florida Panthers head coach and current assistant with New Jersey, “Bruno” has an excellent reputation for a smart hockey mind. He had a personal setback recently with a DUI charge, which happened while operating a golf cart. 

It is not expected to negatively impact his future career, though obviously, it is not something anyone wants. Brunette overachieved as a player and many think he’ll do so again as a head coach.

Mike Vellucci (+1100) 

He remains an assistant coach with the Penguins, despite Pittsburgh’s first miss of the playoffs in 16 years. That probably doesn’t help his near-term chances though.

Still, Vellucci has a good reputation as a coach on the rise with a sharp hockey intellect. He should be a head coach before too long with someone.

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Joe Sacco (+1200) 

A former head coach with Colorado, Sacco is an assistant to a Boston team that set an all-time NHL record for wins (65) this season. That has made him look more attractive as a candidate again.

Bruce Boudreau (+1800) 

He led the Capitals to some great regular seasons but never could get Washington to the Finals as a coach. Could he get another chance with Washington? Unlikely, but his teams have usually been good ones.

The Field (+700) 

It is well known that Joel Quenneville is hoping to get another chance as a head coach, after a hasty departure from Florida last season based on prior unsavory happenings in Chicago years before. 

Quenneville is obviously a proven winner, but an organization will need to be ready for potential media and fan blowback if they hire him. … Seattle assistant Jay Leach is someone to keep an eye on for future jobs … Colorado assistant Nolan Pratt is too.