NHL Rumors: Is Bruce Boudreau on the Verge of Being Fired?

The Washington Capitals are off to a lukewarm start by their standards. Their record of (12-9-1) for 25 points puts them second in the Southeast Division. However, the Capitals are 25th overall in the league for goals allowed. For a high-octane team like the Caps, giving up a lot of goals is not a key for success.

When a team is losing, the blame is often shifted and placed on the head coach. That is exactly what has happened, and Bruce Boudreau may be on the verge of being handed a pink slip from George McPhee. 

This is not surprising news as Washington is 3-6-1 during their last 10 games. Boudreau’s tenure has appeared to have worn out in Washington after four consecutive postseason failures. It is surprising that a team as dominant as the Capitals has not advanced past the conference semifinals during Boudreau’s tenure thus far. 

The Washington Times ran a story tonight that spoke about Boudreau’s job and how according to reports from NHL insider Nick Kypreos, Boudreau’s job was in jeopardy.

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On Rogers SportsNet's Hockey Central program on Sunday night, the former Caps player and current analyst made reference to the possibility that Bruce Boudreau could be relieved of his coaching duties and replaced by former teammate Dale Hunter in the coming days.

After host Scott Morrison talks about the Caps and flips to Kypreos, he goes into his mention of the coaching situation and the possibility that Bruce Boudreau is fired sooner rather than later.

'A lot of speculation something could happen in the next 24-48 hours,' Kypreos said. 'The name being thrown out there is ex-Washington Capital, a centerman of mine, Dale Hunter.'

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However, the Times also noted that they reached out to Caps spokesman Sergey Kocharov, who said it was "Not true. Just speculation."

There is an English saying that goes, “A fish stinks from the head down." In this case, this fish is the Washington Capitals and Boudreau is the head. His clashing with team captain Alex Ovechkin was put on center stage when Ovechkin uttered a derogatory remark towards Boudreau.

There was also the questioning of Boudreau making Alex Semin and Joel Ward healthy scratches during games so far this season. Looking at his tenure so far in Washington, Boudreau has a record of 189-79-39.

The Capitals have finished first in the Southeast Division every year Boudreau has coached the team. Before becoming interim coach in 2007, he coached the Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, to a Calder Cup.

Rumored replacement Dale Hunter currently is the co-owner and head coach of the OHL’s London Knights. This is just a rumor but if Boudreau is fired, would Hunter be a good replacement?

Hunter is infamously known for his vicious check against Pierre Turgeon. The check separated Turgeon’s shoulder and Hunter was issued a very lengthy suspension.

Nonetheless, is Boudreau’s tenure in Washington nearing the end? If push came to shove, would you keep Boudreau or trade clashing players like Alex Semin?

Leave a comment in the section below to get the conversation started. 

This story is still in it’s earliest stages but check the Bleacher Report NHL page for more news when it is available.

Tom Urtz Jr. is an NHL Featured Columnist and New York Rangers Featured Columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: