Our thoughts on coach Bruce Boudreau's future were expressed after the Washington Capitals were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night — it's time for a change.
There are two guys that have that decision in their hands. One of them is GM George McPhee, who told the press Thursday at Kettler Iceplex as the Capitals packed for the summer that he anticipates Boudreau will return for the 2011-12 season.
From Ryan O'Halloran of CSN Washington:
"I expect him to be back, yeah," McPhee said at Kettler Capitals IcePlex, hours after his team was bounced by Tampa Bay. "He's a good coach. Somebody said he's not a playoff coach. There's no difference between a playoff coach and a regular season coach. You're either a good coach or you're not and he's a good coach."
"There's no difference between a playoff coach and regular season coach" … has anyone yet heard from the Capitals why, then, there's such a difference between their regular-season and postseason success?
The other guy making the call on Boudreau, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, congratulated the Lightning on his blog and offered apologies to Capitals fans for how it all went down:
Clearly we know we have to improve to build a franchise that is as good as our fan base. I appreciate your emails. I appreciate all of the advice we are being given by media and bloggers. I understand that we are what our record says we are.
Thank you for your support during this grind of a season. Thank you for caring so much. I am so very sorry we let you all down.
The question all of D.C. is asking today: What will he and the Capitals do about it?