ARLINGTON, Va. -- After the best regular season in franchise history, the Washington Capitals almost lost two assistant coaches to other NHL teams.
Todd Reirden was a finalist for the Calgary Flames' head coaching job and Lane Lambert for the Colorado Avalanche's. The Flames hired Glen Gulutzan in June, and then after the abrupt resignation of Patrick Roy the Avalanche hired Jared Bednar last week. That left Jack Adams Award-winning coach Barry Trotz's staff intact for another run at the Stanley Cup.
Trotz was selfishly glad to still have Reirden and Lambert on the bench, especially considering the Capitals have most of their players back and are again a Cup favourite.