(Photo: Caps365)

Announced today, Bruce Boudreau has been relieved of his coaching duties.

In November of 2007, Boudreau took a last place Caps team and turned them into a playoff contender. In the seasons since then, Boudreau compiled a 201-88-40 record with the Caps and became the fastest coach to win 200 games. Further, Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award for the NHL’s most outstanding head coach after his first season with the Caps and helped the team win four straight division titles, as well as a President’s Trophy.

However, in November of 2011, it became apparent that Boudreau had lost the attention of the players, resulting in the loss of his job.

“This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding,” said GM George McPhee. “We have too many players that aren’t playing well.”

Set to take Boudreau’s place is former Caps captain, Dale Hunter.

While Hunter has no NHL experience, he does have the best winning percentage in the OHL with the London Knights, a team he has coached for the past eleven years. When addressing this fact, McPhee stated, “No ones been better at that level.” McPhee also told reporters that, “Coaching is coaching,” and “Dale really understands this game.”

Caps Coach Dale Hunter lead the team in practice today and is set to make his debut behind the bench in Tuesday’s game at home against St. Louis.

For a full video of GM George McPhee’s press conference, click here.

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