{"id":414279,"date":"2026-01-18T04:49:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/414279\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T04:49:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:49:07","slug":"former-capitals-assistant-mitch-love-named-head-coach-in-khl-amid-nhl-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/414279\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Capitals assistant Mitch Love named head coach in KHL amid NHL suspension"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mitch Love, who was fired by the Washington Capitals as an assistant coach<\/a> in October 2025 after being suspended for the 2025-26 NHL season, reportedly due to alleged domestic abuse<\/a>, has been hired as the next head coach of the Shanghai Dragons in the KHL.<\/p>\n

Gerard Gallant, who coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers in the NHL, recently stepped away from the position due to health reasons.<\/p>\n

After battling an illness, Gerard Gallant in consultation with his KHL team doctors and management, has decided to step away from coaching the rest of the season. He\u2019s doing better. Wants to focus on getting back to 100 percent health. He\u2019s headed back home to PEI.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still in the playoff race, and with a significant portion of the season ahead, we evaluated multiple scenarios following Gerard Gallant\u2019s departure,\u201d Dragons CEO Sergey Belykh said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cAfter a thorough review of the market, our final choice was Mitch Love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Love, 41, served as an assistant coach for the Capitals for two seasons, and head coach of the AHL\u2019s Calgary Wranglers prior to that. Love was named AHL Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n

At the time of his suspension in 2025, the NHL cited \u201cconduct detrimental to the league\u201d as the reason in a statement to The Athletic<\/a>. The league said he would be eligible to apply for reinstatement for the 2026-27 season \u201csubject to certain conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shortly after, Love released a statement denying the allegations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I am disappointed by and disagree with the NHL\u2019s decision, I respect the process and accept both the league\u2019s findings and the Capitals\u2019 decision,\u201d the statement said<\/a>. \u201cI will continue to openly cooperate throughout this process. That said, I fully deny the allegations against me and look forward to returning to the sport I love as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

This past summer, Love interviewed<\/a> with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken for their head-coaching vacancies.<\/p>\n

Love takes over a Dragons team that currently sits in ninth place in the KHL\u2019s Western Conference standings through 45 games \u2014 one spot out of playoff position.<\/p>\n