On Sunday afternoon. the Washington Capitals announced that they relieved assistant coach Mitch Love of his duties, effective immediately.
The decision comes after the NHL suspended Love due to findings and results of an NHL-led investigation into domestic abuse allegations.
The Capitals originally placed Love on team-imposed leave as the NHL conducted an investigation into his past.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the investigation began when the victim reported allegations directly to the NHL. The woman also notified teams that Love had interviewed with about head coach vacancies this past summer.
As a result, Washington has replaced Love with Patrick Wellar, who has been with the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
Love originally joined the Capitals ahead of the 2023-24 season after one-year stints as head coach of the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers and Stockton Heat. He also spent three seasons as head coach of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Saskatoon Blades and seven years as an assistant with the Everett Silvertips.
