Capitals Promote Patrick Amid Management Changes – Hockey Writers – Officials Management
The Washington Capitals have been very busy over the past few weeks, forming their roster for the 2024-25 NHL season. They added Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, and Matt Roy, among other additions. With their many walks on the ice in the rearview mirror, the organization has announced that they are changing things up in the front office. Brian MacLellan, who has been the general manager and president, will be the sole president of the club. The general manager position now belongs to Chris Patrick, who was promoted.
According to the Capitals website, MacLellan will be Patrick's manager, and Patrick will report to him on hockey matters. The site also states, “In his new role, Patrick will represent Finance at NHL General Managers meetings and be the first point of contact for other NHL GMs. He will report to MacLellan, who will remain responsible for all aspects of hockey.”
History of Patrick and the Princes
Being named GM must be special for Patrick, who has spent 16 seasons with the franchise. He was drafted by the Capitals in 1994, and according to their website, “grew up playing hockey in the Washington, DC area in the Capital Beltway Hockey League with the Little Caps … He and his father, Dick Patrick, became the sixth and seventh members of the Patrick family to win Stanley Cup in 2018.”
ESPN noted in the article, “Patrick, 48, who was also named senior vice president, has worked for the Capitals in various capacities since 2009 and served as an assistant GM under MacLellan for the past three years. The son of long-time club president Dick Patrick was previously the director of players after a long career as a professional.”
According to the Capitals website, “Patrick managed a professional club staff and worked closely with the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate, who won back-to-back Calder Cup championships. During his tenure, the Bears have won two Calder Cups, two Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophies as an AHL regular season team and have reached three Calder Cups.
Not only has Patrick been instrumental in finding talented players, but he has an eye for talent in the coaching staff, too: “Patrick hired two great coaches, Spencer Carbery and Todd Nelson, who won AHL Coach of the Year. awards with Hershey.”
Patrick gained a lot of experience and knowledge working in the front office of the Capital. He earned this promotion, and will now be tasked with leading the organization into its next era.
MacLellan Leaves Successful Stint as GM
MacLellan received praise from Capitals fans for the various additions he made this offseason trying to bounce back after being swept by the New York Rangers in the playoffs. He took over the role after George McPhee helped put key pieces in place, but MacLellan added the right players to back up franchise stars in Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. As a result, Washington won its first Stanley Cup championship in 2018. This organization has had great GMs over the years, like McPhee and David Poile before him, but none of them lifted the Cup.
An NHL GM being promoted outside of the role is very common. According to Sportsnet, “The front office shakeup is the latest around the NHL with a volatile GM on the top floor and withdrawing day-to-day operations. It took place in 2022 with Colorado after the Avalanche won the Cup, with Chris MacFarland succeeding Joe Sakic as GM and Sakic became the president of hockey, and St. Louis set a succession plan for Alexander Steen and Doug Armstrong to follow the same path.
Related: Blues Make Smart Move by Elevating Steen to GM in 2026
While MacLellan may no longer be running the show as GM, Washington isn't done trying to win another trophy under Ovechkin. That is evident after adding Dubois, Mangiapane, and Roy. The roster may be set for the 2024-25 campaign, but where things take off will be up to Patrick.
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