The Capitals have hired Ray Bennett, who spent last season as an assistant with the New York Islanders, to join their coaching staff, the team announced on Thursday.
Bennett will replace former assistant Kirk Muller. The Capitals opted against re-signing Muller, who oversaw one of the least efficient power plays in the league last season as Washington narrowly missed the playoffs.
Before he arrived in New York ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Bennett spent eight years as an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche. He won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.
The Islanders announced Wednesday that the franchise “mutually agreed to part ways” with Bennett, as he pursued a lateral move to Washington.
But swapping Muller for Bennett won’t be enough on its own to inspire Capitals fans who are eager for another postseason run. Washington finished 25th in the league in power play percentage last season. Bennett’s Islanders ranked 30th.
Assistant coaches rank relatively low on the list of Washington fans’ priorities this offseason. They’ll be locked into the moves of franchise icon Alex Ovechkin, who said he would announce a potential retirement decision in the coming months.
The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Capitals are currently projected to have $33 million in cap space next season, according to PuckPedia, ranking seventh in the NHL.
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