The worst kept secret in hockey is out of the bag.
No, Gary Bettman has not revealed that he and Kevin Spacey are the same person. Brent Burns has not officially said that he is the son of Chewbacca. What I mean is that the Capitals have named Todd Reirden their head coach.
Anyone following the Capitals has known since about October that Barry Trotz was going to finish out the season and then be replaced by his assistant. The only wrinkle in the plan was when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup and then Trotz and McLellan had to pretend like they were still in love for a bit.
They even gave Reirden the title of 'associate coach.'
Now, I don't know the difference between an associate and an assistant is, but I guess it's a little formally informing a person that you've upgraded them from acquaintance to friend?
I don't know what the new coach's philosophy is, or how he'd be any different than Trotz, but my hope is that he doesn't randomly scratch his some of his best players.
No terms for the contract are known, and really, who cares what the coach makes?
The Capitals have a new coach, and now I am going swimming because it is hotter than the surface of the sun here today.