The Washington Capitals put assistant coach Mitch Love on leave pending the results of an investigation by the NHL.
The Capitals announced the move Sunday and said they would have no further comment until the league’s investigation is complete.
“Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on team-imposed leave pending results of an investigation by the National Hockey League,” the team said. “We will refrain from further comment until the NHL’s investigation is complete.”
Before coming to the Capitals, Love was head coach of the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League in 2022-23. He has worked with Washington’s defensemen.
Love is a two-time recipient of the AHL’s Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award given to the league’s most outstanding coach. He won the award in back to back in 2021-22 and 2022-23, one of only three AHL coaches to ever win consecutive seasons.
He’s the only coach to win the award in his first two AHL seasons.
Love interviewed with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken for their head coaching vacancies this offseason.