The timing of the move showed that firing Adam Oates and deciding not to renew George McPhee's contract was not a rash decision by Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis. You don’t keep a respected general manager like McPhee in the organization for 17 years and then make a knee-jerk decision after missing the playoffs for just the first time since 2006-07.
This was thought out, deliberated and, to the Capitals' organizational credit, it looks like it was done in a respectful manner in which Leonsis wasn't working behind the scenes to line up a replacement while his GM was still employed.
Cutting ties with a man responsible for building a team that looked, at times, capable of breaking through during the playoffs was hard. But it doesn’t get any easier from here. Leonsis will meet with the Washington media later Saturday afternoon, where he’ll share his thought process moving forward, but these are some next steps they should take:
1. Look internally for answers
There was some speculation that the Capitals pursued Bob Nicholson, who ran Hockey Canada, and it’s possible they kicked the tires on Brendan Shanahan. But president Dick Patrick will be part of the media availability today, so it appears he’ll be in on the decision-making.
It’s believed that the Capitals like their support staff under McPhee, and perhaps this opens the possibility for an expanded role for someone like Brian MacLellan, the assistant GM in charge of player personnel. Ross Mahoney, the director of amateur scouting, shouldn't go anywhere. The Capitals have cycled through coaches and have underachieved at times, but this team typically drafts really well.
2. Conduct a thorough GM search
It will be fascinating to see who Leonsis brings in to run the team, because his track record shows he'll give them every opportunity, resource and the time to succeed. Because of that, it’s a good job. It’s not a position Leonsis should rush to fill, but GM searches in Calgary and Vancouver could impact that process if they are looking at the same candidates, although the availability of McPhee might just solve one of those openings.
The Capitals have had two general managers since 1982 -- David Poile and McPhee. Of all the NHL owners, Leonsis’ progressive thinking makes him one of the best candidates to make a nontraditional hire for this position. There’s not an obvious big name available, but there are plenty of qualified assistant GMs who deserve an interview, such as Vancouver’s Laurence Gilman, Phoenix’s Brad Treliving, Columbus’ Bill Zito, Boston’s duo of Don Sweeney and Jim Benning, New York’s Jeff Gorton and Pittsburgh’s Jason Botterill.
As tempting as it might be to grab one of the high-profile head coaches available right now -- such as Barry Trotz or Peter Laviolette -- to replace Oates, that’s a hire you have to let the new GM make.
3. Make a call on Alex Ovechkin
Once everyone is on board, this becomes the first order of business. Ovechkin remains a franchise player and is one of the most dangerous players in the league, but it’s clear that he’s not a guy who you win with if everything orbits around him. Right now, he’s the identity of the Capitals and it’s not working. He may be better-suited in a role where he’s not asked to be the face of the franchise and the leader of the team, but instead asked to do what he does best: score goals and be a dominant force on the power play.
If that means stripping him of the captaincy, it’s a step the new regime has to consider. If that’s not feasible, and they don't believe they can win championships with him as the highest-paid player and focal point of the franchise, then it’s time to explore a trade.
It’s nonsense to suggest that Ovechkin is the reason the Capitals have struggled, when the reality is he’s often the reason they win games. But few championship teams are built around wingers, whose focus is primarily on offense. Championship teams are built down the middle and on defense, long-time areas of concern in Washington, leading the Capitals to where they are today.