Capitals Hire Kirk Muller, Finalize Coaching Staff

The Washington Capitals have named Kirk Muller as an assistant coach and Kenny McCudden as an assistant/skills coach, the team announced Thursday.

The two are the final hires behind the bench for Spencer Carbery‘s inaugural coaching staff, following the hire of Mitch Love in June.

Muller, 57, spent most recently spent two seasons as the associate coach under Darryl Sutter with the Calgary Flames. He served as the Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach from 2011-14, and has also taken assistant roles with the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues.

McCudden, 61, coached under both John Tortorella and Brad Larsen during his eight seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Before that, he spent 16 seasons as the skating and skills coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. From 2011-14, McCudden also served as the skating and skills coach for the United States women’s national team.

The Capitals have also promoted assistant strength coach Zack Leddon to head strength coach and hired Hershey Bears strength coach Mike Wagner to assistant strength coach.

Here’s the 2023-24 Washington Capitals coaching staff:

Spencer Carbery, head coach

Scott Allen, assistant coach (penalty kill)

Mitch Love, assistant coach (defense)

Kirk Muller, assistant coach (power play – expected)

Kenny McCudden, assistant coach (skills)

Scott Murray, goaltending coach