Is it a sick coincidence that we are still in the NHL post-season and even though both of their season’s are over, on the same day the Washington Capitals lost and the Pittsburgh Penguins won?
Caps goalie coach Arturs Irbe, after two seasons, has decided to leave the organization. It was for personal and family reasons, was the explanation provided by a Capitals spokesperson.
Japer’s Rink broke the story and you can read more details here: Caps goalie coach Arturs Irbe won’t be back next season.
After hockey has been a defining part of his life for so long, is Irbe tired of the game and the commitment? Or could the personal reasons have to do with his take on where this team is going?
With free agency, the NHL Draft and potential trades set to happen across the hockey landscape, who knows what the Caps will do. I am extremely eager to see how general manager George McPhee will shape the 2011-2012 squad, but this move doesn’t sit well with me.
I’m all for fans in Verizon Center waving red flags, but I hate to see them pop up out of nowhere in the front office/coaching staff. Hopefully in the long run this isn’t a big deal, but unless more details surface I find it odd and unsettling.
To top off losing Irbe’s 568 games of regular season experience (and 51 playoff games), our friends in Pittsburgh are at it again.
The Penguins acquired forward Bill Guerin at the trade deadline of the 2008-2009 regular season, much to the chagrin of many Caps fans. There he helped eliminate Washington from the post-season on the way to hoisting his 2nd Stanley Cup.
Today, a team with an owner in Mario Lemieux, who every player in the NHL should look up to, respect and be eager to learn from continued to show respect to the idea an organization can’t have enough positive leadership, adding Guerin back in the fold as player development coach (Guerin embraces new role with Penguins).
Bill Guerin’s career numbers from hockeydb.com include 18 NHL seasons, 1,263 regular season games (103 more playoff games), and a pair of Stanley Cup championships. He also played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games for the United States. He has been around the block and has hardware to show for it.
I can’t say the position duties and requirements are 100% the same, but in comparison Steve Richmond is the Capitals director of player development.
He played with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings. According to hockeydb.com he played in a total of 133 NHL games, including no playoff appearances.
This is not to say that Richmond is not fantastic at his job and a very good person, I know very little about him. But the point I’d like to make is that championship organizations, and organizations that strive to become elite, find ways to bring in as much leadership and championship experience as they can when they recognize an available asset.
Here’s to the Washington Capitals learning from those around the sports landscape and taking another step towards a championship and elite level status in 2011-2012.
Ross Hollebon's Sports Pub 
It seems a little off-target to suggest that “elite” in front office means a successful NHL career or a well-known name. One really has nothing to do with another. Guerin could turn out to be an excellent executive or a lousy one; often great players turn out to be terrible coaches because they can’t relate. Sometimes journeymen make the best front office people because of a certain lunch-pail perspective they bring. I’m not thrilled with Irbe leaving, but not because he was a well-known goalie — simply because he did a nice job here. His predecessor, Dave Prior, was also one of the most respected goalie coaches in the league and I was bummed when he split, too. Hopefully, McPhee finds a worthy successor to Irbe, too. He did a pretty good job last time.
Hi Michael – and thanks for reading the post. I agree that an “elite” front office is not guaranteed by just hiring successful former players. And even though I’m sure he was a solid influence on the young goalies, I don’t doubt the Caps will be able to fins another good goalie coach. What I would like to see are more mentors, day in and day out, that young millionaires will be willing to listen to and learn from. It was exciting to hear Ovi was reportedly spending as much time as he was with Arnott. What is unfortunate was how long he, and the other players, had to wait between Federov leaving and Arnott arriving to have a proven leader. One who has been through tough times and Stanley Cup Championships. With Ted Leonsis’ personal approach to mentoring and the good he typically sees come of it, I’m just surprised it hasn’t worked its way into the culture the way it does in Pittsburgh.
I’m obviously not in the building, and do see some of this – as the organization gets Peter Bondra, Olie Kolzig, Calle Johannson back involved – but while being great Capitals players helps, there is still not a Cup between them.
Thanks for your very informed feedback and I hope we get to discuss more things Capitals moving forward.
Nice theme. Suits you well. Not sure about that chandelier pic though 😉