Assistant coach Mitch Love was relieved of his duties by the Washington Capitals following the conclusion of an NHL investigation into his private conduct, the group introduced Sunday.
Love was positioned on team-imposed depart Sept. 14, with the Capitals awaiting the league’s investigation into allegations associated to Love’s private conduct, a league supply informed ESPN again in September.
“Mitch Love has been relieved of his duties as an assistant coach, efficient instantly,” the Capitals stated in an announcement. “This determination follows the findings of an NHL-led investigation into previous allegations. The group is dedicated to sustaining the best requirements of conduct and accountability.”
After lacking the playoffs within the 2022-23 season, the Capitals employed coach Spencer Carbery, who then added Like to his employees as an assistant coach.
Carbery’s first season in control of the Capitals noticed them end first within the Metropolitan Division with 111 factors earlier than shedding within the second spherical of the postseason to the Carolina Hurricanes.
That, in flip, made Love a sought-after teaching candidate in an offseason during which almost a 3rd of the NHL was in search of a brand new head coach.
Love interviewed with just a few groups and was considered among the many finalists for the Boston Bruins’ and Pittsburgh Penguins’ openings.
The league supply informed ESPN that the NHL acquired a letter detailing allegations about Love’s private conduct whereas he was interviewing with groups. Two of the groups that Love reportedly interviewed with had been despatched an analogous letter. These allegations are stated to have predated his tenure with the Capitals.
In response to the NHL’s months-long investigation, the Capitals positioned Love on depart after the league knowledgeable the membership of the allegations.
Previous to becoming a member of the Capitals, Love spent two years as the pinnacle coach of the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, throughout which he was named AHL Coach of the 12 months twice.
Love started his teaching profession as an assistant with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips earlier than leaving to turn out to be the pinnacle coach of the Saskatoon Blades, who additionally play within the WHL.
His was additionally an assistant coach on two of Canada’s U-20 World Junior Championship groups, which gained a gold medal in 2020 and silver the next 12 months.
Coming into Sunday, the Capitals (6-3-0) sat fourth within the Metropolitan Division standings and had been 4 factors behind the New Jersey Devils for the division lead. They’ll tackle the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.