The Capitals have filled the opening on their coaching staff, hiring Patrick Wellar to mentor the team’s defensemen, the franchise announced Wednesday.
Washington had a vacancy in its ranks after firing assistant Mitch Love last month following an NHL misconduct investigation.
Love had become a popular name on the carousel of NHL head-coaching jobs this past offseason, interviewing for openings with the Seattle Kraken, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins over the summer.
ESPN reported that the NHL and two teams received letters about Love’s “conduct” that prompted the investigation. The situation occurred before Love joined the Capitals in June 2023, according to the report.
Wellar had been working with the Capitals on an interim basis since Love was suspended during training camp.
Wellar becomes full time after spending the last seven seasons with the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate. In Hershey, the 41-year-old worked with the Bears’ blue line during their consecutive Calder Cup titles in 2023 and 2024. He also coached a handful of current Capitals, including Martin Fehervary and Dylan McIlrath.
Prior to joining the Bears, Wellar worked with other minor-league teams: the Reading Royals, Cincinnati Cyclones and Utah Grizzlies. The Saskatchewan native was a minor-league defenseman before transitioning to a coaching career. The Capitals drafted him in the third round of the 2002 draft, though he never played at the NHL level.
Wellar skated with Capitals’ affiliates — including the Bears — throughout his playing career. In 2010, he and current Capitals defenseman John Carlson won the Calder Cup with Hershey.
Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said Wellar will work primarily with Washington’s defensemen during his first stint at the NHL level.
Washington’s blueliners have been solid this season despite an uneven start for the Capitals. The defense has allowed just 2.38 goals per game, the best mark in the NHL. On offense, Carlson has led the group of defensemen with 13 points through 16 games.
Carlson and teammate Jakob Chychrun have each tallied four goals, tied for third in the NHL among defensemen.
The Capitals (8-7-1) are in the middle of a four-game road trip that ends with a game against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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