Assistant coach Kirk Muller will not be returning to Spencer Carbery\u2019s coaching staff next season.<\/p>\n
On Monday morning, the Washington Capitals<\/a> released a statement from general manager Chris Patrick announcing that Muller had expressed a desire to find another NHL job and that his contract would not be renewed, presenting the decision as mutual between the parties.<\/p>\n \u201cKirk has expressed his desire to explore other opportunities within the National Hockey League, and we respect and support his decision,\u201d Patrick said. \u201cWe thank Kirk for his dedication, professionalism, and the many contributions he made during his three years with our organization. He is an experienced and highly respected coach whose work ethic, leadership, and commitment to player development had a meaningful impact on our team both on and off the ice. We wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of his career.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior vice president & general manager Chris Patrick issued the following statement regarding assistant coach Kirk Muller, whose contract is set to expire in June 2026. pic.twitter.com\/CW38VaXI0b<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The decision comes after Patrick said during his end-of-season press conference with reporters that any decision on the club\u2019s coaching staff would only come after a meeting with Carbery<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to talk to Carbs,\u201d Patrick said on Monday. \u201cWe just got through all the player meetings. I\u2019ve got to talk to Carbs, meet with the coaching staff, and see how we move forward from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Muller was in charge of the Capitals\u2019 anemic power play, which finished 25th best in the league last season with a 17.8 percent effectiveness and contributed to the Capitals missing the playoffs for the first time under Carbery. The Capitals\u2019 man-advantage also gave up 11 shorthanded goals, one of just three teams to allow more than 10 this past year, which led to a 29th-place net power-play percentage (13.3 percent).<\/p>\n Carbery was frustrated<\/a> by his team\u2019s lack of success on the power play throughout the season. However, when asked about the struggles in March<\/a>, he expressed full confidence in Muller, instead placing blame on the entire coaching staff.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all involved in [the power play],\u201d Carbery said then<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m not going to break down the specifics of who handles each and every responsibility. Kirk runs our power play, does a great job. It\u2019s not a lack of effort, and not a lack of him trying to turn over every rock and find solutions to what\u2019s going on. We all contribute, and we all help where we see fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Muller was first hired to the Capitals coaching staff in the summer of 2023 and spent three seasons in Washington. He first landed in the NHL as a coach in 2006-07 after being hired bythe Montreal Canadiens<\/a>. He\u2019s briefly served as both head coach of the Habs and Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t