Washington Capitals Rumors: Frontrunner Emerges For Head Coaching Job

The Washington Capitals' head coaching search is heating up, and a new report seems to indicate that a frontrunner has emerged from the pack. According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Spencer Carbery is the man to beat for that position. 

Carbery, I think, spoke to three or four teams last week. I think he spoke to the (New York) Rangers, the (Anaheim) Ducks and the Capitals.

Everybody kind of thinks that Washington is the team to beat, they're the ones that are most eager to get him. I think we'll see an answer to that pretty soon. Definitely there's a feeling that Carbery is the favorite.

Carbery was head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears from 2018 through 2021 before joining the Leafs' bench staff for the past two seasons. He's been one of the hottest names on the NHL's offseason head coaching hunt. 

Another leading candidate for the Capitals' job was thought to be Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Jeff Halpern—Alexander Ovechkin's teammate on two different occasions in Washington. He's already had one interview in DC, along with Philadelphia Flyers assistant Brad Shaw. 

The Caps parted ways with Peter Laviolette after three seasons at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and he is now thought to be a leading candidate for another team. 

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