The head coach's future in D.C. is in question after the team failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2014.
ARLINGTON, V.A. -- For head coach Peter Laviolette, the Washington Capitals' season finale against the New Jersey Devils carries quite a bit of weight, as it could potentially be his last behind the bench in D.C. However, Laviolette is putting that out of his head and staying in the present, and therefore, treating Thursday as he would any other game day.
Laviolette's future is in question going into a lengthy offseason for Washington, as his Capitals failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2014. And, when asked about the possibility of him and the organization parting ways after a disappointing year, Laviolette shifted the focus back to game No. 82.
"I'm focused on the game tonight," Laviolette said when asked about his future with the team. "Just, you know, it's been a grind of a year. The game against New Jersey tonight, it's gonna mean something for them and we've got to be ready to play."
This is the final season of a three-year contract for the long-time bench boss, who helped the Capitals to the postseason in 2021 and 2022 but saw his team eliminated in the first round.
Laviolette is among the winningest coaches in NHL history, and on several occasions, he has helped Washington remain afloat amid numerous injuries to key players, including Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson. However, the lack of postseason success, as well as inconsistency and a failure to qualify this year, may lead the team in another direction this summer.
Still, regarding the future, Laviolette declined to go further into detail, keeping his focus on the final game of the year.
"I'm focused on trying to be the best that we can be tonight, and everything else will happen after that. So my focus stays just with the game and the players and the team tonight to win a hockey game."