Report: Capitals interview Babcock, Gallant for head coaching vacancy

The Washington Capitals' search for a new head coach seems to be picking up speed, with a number of seasoned veterans vying for the role.

After reportedly interviewing Peter Laviolette in August, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has also interviewed both Gerard Gallant and Mike Babcock, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Wednesday's edition of "Insider Trading."

"Sources confirm (MacLellan) has interviewed Gerard Gallant, he has interviewed Peter Laviolette, and yes - he has interviewed Mike Babcock," LeBrun said. "And I think he wants to hire one of those three experienced coaches, I think within the next couple weeks."

The Capitals parted ways with Todd Reirden shortly after they were eliminated from the postseason. Reirden served as Washington's head coach for two seasons after the departure of Barry Trotz and has since been hired as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Babcock had been a head coach in the NHL since the 2002-03 season before the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him early in the 2019-20 campaign. He made the playoffs 14 times in that span, winning the Stanley Cup once with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.

Gallant is the least experienced of the three reported candidates, having only been an NHL head coach for nine seasons. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2018 after helping lead the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.

Laviolette has coached over 1,200 games in the NHL, most recently with the Nashville Predators. He led the Predators to the playoffs in all five of his full seasons with the team, including a trip to the finals in 2017. Nashville fired him in January.

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