Capitals make coaching move amid Mitch Love fallout

Last month, the Washington Capitals fired assistant coach Mitch Love following the conclusion of an NHL investigation into his personal conduct. Love had been placed on team-imposed leave Sept. 14, with the Capitals awaiting the league’s investigation into allegations related to Love’s personal conduct.

On Wednesday, the Capitals made a subsequent move in the ordeal, naming Patrick Wellar their full-time assistant coach in replacement of Love.

Before the 2022-23 season, the Capitals hired coach Spencer Carbery, who then added Love to his staff as an assistant coach.

There is no question that Love is a talented coach as he became a sought-after coaching candidate in the summer and was thought to be among the finalists for the Boston Bruins ‘ and Pittsburgh Penguins ‘openings.

However, it unfolded from there with the NHL receiving a letter detailing allegations about Love’s personal conduct while he was interviewing with teams. Two of the teams that Love reportedly interviewed with were sent a similar letter. Those allegations are said to have predated his tenure with the Capitals.

When it comes to Wellar, he had been a coach with the AHL’s Hershey Bears since 2018, joining the team a month after Carbery came on as head coach. He previously spent six years with the organization as a player for the Bears and South Carolina Stingrays and was a member of Hershey’s 2010 Calder Cup championship team.

Wellar had been with the Caps since the start of the season and is here to stay with the conclusion of the NHL investigation.