Capitals promote Reirden to head coach to replace Trotz

ARLINGTON, VA. » When Barry Trotz resigned, the Washington Capitals didn’t even bother with a coaching search.

There was only one candidate and he got the job.

Top assistant Todd Reirden will take over the Stanley Cup-champion Capitals, promoted from the bench on Friday in a move that allows Washington to maintain a sense of continuity. Reirden coached the defensemen the past four seasons, was a finalist for another NHL head job two years ago, earned a promotion to associate coach and played a substantial role in the first championship in franchise history.

“We feel that the time is right for Todd to lead our hockey club,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “Based on his coaching experience, communication abilities, his approach to the game and the respect he commands in our locker room, we feel that Todd has earned this opportunity.”

MacLellan hopes promoting Reirden from within will allow the team to “transition seamlessly into next season and beyond.”

Given his four-year tenure on Trotz’s staff and the league-wide view of him as a rising star in coaching, Reirden was the only one interviewed for this job. He was hired less than two weeks after Trotz resigned and eight days after the veteran Cup-winning coach joined the New York Islanders.

The 47-year-old former defenseman coached the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for parts of two seasons before serving as an NHL assistant with Pittsburgh for four years.

Kempny re-signs with Capitals for $10M, 4 years

ARLINGTON, VA. » Defenseman Michal Kempny has re-signed with the Stanley Cup champion Capitals for $10 million over four years.

Washington picked up Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline for a 2018 thirdround draft pick.

He was helpful during the Capitals’ postseason run to their first title, getting two goals and three assists while averaging more than 17½ minutes per game as a top-four defenseman.

Doughty stays with Kings

EL SEGUNDO » Defenseman Drew Doughty has agreed to an eightyear contract extension through the 2026-27 season to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

Doughty has been among the NHL’s top defensemen throughout a 10-year career spent entirely with the Kings. He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 2016, and he has been a finalist for the award in three other seasons, including 2017-18.

Doughty played a major role in the Kings’ Stanley Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2014.

Reirden