Dale Hunter: Washington Capitals Coach Steps Down After Intense NHL Postseason

He led his team to an improbable playoff run that included 14 games against the two top teams in the Eastern Conference, but Dale Hunter is done with the Capitals.

After part of just one season at the helm, Washington's head coach is stepping down, according to Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press.

Hunter told the AP, "It was the right thing to do" after informing the team that he wanted to return to Canada to be with his family.

General manager George McPhee added that the coach "got everything out of this team that he could," according to the AP. 

Fendrich took over after Bruce Boudreau was fired in November, and he led the team to a 30-23-7 record throughout the rest of the season, which earned them a No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

The Capitals may have been the last team in, but they looked like a contender throughout their entire postseason run, taking both the No. 2 Bruins and the No. 1 Rangers to the brink of elimination despite being without goaltenders Tomas Vokoun and Michael Neuvirth.

In their first-round series against Boston, the Capitals won Game 7 in overtime to earn the right to play the top-seeded Rangers. They won Game 6 to avoid elimination before finally bowing out on Saturday in Game 7.

Hunter, who played 19 seasons in the NHL, remains the only player in NHL history with 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes. He played for the Capitals for 11 seasons and has had his jersey retired by the team. 

Hunter informed McPhee of his decision on Monday, and according to the AP, he'll resume his role as the coach of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights.