Harry Lichtman
The Washington Capitals have found their replacement for Kirk Muller. The team has hired Ray Bennett as their new assistant coach.
Bennett now joins Spencer Carbery’s staff which includes fellow assistant coaches Scott Allen and Patrick Wellar. Other members include skills coach Kenny McCudden, goaltending coach Scott Murray, assistant/video coach Brett Leonhardt, and video coach Emily Engel-Natzke.
Bennett spent last season with the New York Islanders, where he oversaw the team’s power play. However, the Islanders’ man advantage struggled at just 13.6 percent under Bennett and former head coach Patrick Roy. The team’s power play was more abysmal down the stretch with just five goals in 34 opportunities in their final 12 games.
Bennett’s more successful tenure came with the Colorado Avalanche from 2017-2025, winning a Stanley Cup in 2022. Over the course of eight seasons, the Avalanche had the fifth-best power play in the NHL. Colorado’s man advantage operated at 23 percent in the regular season, and 24.3 percent (fourth-best) in the playoffs.
Bennett has coached for over 25 years at the NHL level. With that type of experience, he seems like the right candidate to improve the Capitals’ struggling power play.
Muller was previously hired by the Capitals in 2023 to oversee the forwards and power play. During his tenure, the team ranked around the middle at 20.6 percent. This past season, the Capitals operated at just 17.8 percent, the eighth-worst in the league.
