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After a whirlwind three-week period of offseason activities, the Capitals continued to grab headlines on Monday morning. The team revealed that Chris Patrick, formerly the associate general manager, would now be taking on the role of general manager. Simultaneously, Brian MacLellan, who had previously held the position of general manager, was promoted to the role of president of hockey operations.

Patrick is the newest addition to the Washington Capitals franchise as the seventh general manager. Remarkably, he is also the first among this group to have been selected by the team in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, where he was chosen in the eighth round as the 197th overall pick.

Patrick, son of Caps’ chairman and minority owner Dick Patrick, emphasizes that above all, this is a validation of our efforts over the past decade or so. He believes that Ted Leonsis, the majority owner, entrusting us with the responsibility of leading the organization demonstrates his confidence in our hockey operations team and the foundation we have established. This was my immediate response to the news.

Since 1982, when my dad became involved, this team has been the only one I’ve known. I can’t envision myself supporting or cheering for any other team. Initially, I believed that if a situation like this were to occur, it would likely be with a team outside of Washington. I had to come to terms with the idea that if it ever happened, I would have to stop being a fan of the Caps. However, the fact that I now have the chance to be a part of this team is truly a dream come true for me.

MacLellan is breaking the trend among Washington’s past GMs by staying with the organization even after his tenure in the GM’s role ended. He took on the position 10 years ago in May and has achieved great success during his time. It comes as no surprise that he is continuing to be a part of the organization. Throughout his 10 seasons as GM, he led the team to nine playoff appearances and secured their only Stanley Cup victory. His record is also remarkable, ranking third among all NHL GMs with 500 or more games.

Over the course of 10 seasons, MacLellan’s Caps teams achieved an impressive record of 449 wins, 244 losses, and 88 overtime losses, resulting in a .631 points percentage. This remarkable ranking places MacLellan behind only Montreal’s Sam Pollock (.685 from 1964-78) and Boston’s Don Sweeney (.665 from 2015-present). Additionally, during this decade, the Washington Capitals secured their first Stanley Cup title in 2018, clinched two Presidents’ Trophies, and set a franchise-record by winning five consecutive Metropolitan Division titles from 2015-16 through 2019-20.

MacLellan is continuing the trend of long-serving Washington general managers, with his tenure now surpassing 10 years. Before him, McPhee held the position for an impressive 17 seasons, taking over from Poile in 1997. Poile, who will be honored with an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame this autumn, had a remarkable 15-year stint as Washington’s GM from 1982-97.

In the past three weeks, MacLellan, along with his hockey operations team, led by Chris Patrick, made significant changes to the team’s roster from the 2023-24 season. They orchestrated several trades and signed free agents, resulting in the addition of seven new players to the organization. Remarkably, only three players from last year’s squad were let go during this process.

MacLellan is set to turn 66 in October. Having had a remarkably successful tenure, he has chosen to hand over the reins to Patrick, who has dedicated more time to learning the game than any of his three predecessors in the role of GM. At 48 years old, Chris Patrick has spent the last 16 seasons, which equates to one-third of his life, climbing the ranks within the organization. As a result, he has now become the seventh GM in franchise history.

Patrick’s increased travel with the team last season signaled that MacLellan might be considering promoting him from associate GM to the GM position. In the past, it was not unusual for one person to serve as both head coach and GM in the NHL. However, the responsibilities of these roles have grown extensively over time. Nowadays, it is rare for someone to take on both positions, except in temporary and urgent circumstances.

In the present, the majority of NHL teams employ multiple assistant GMs. Following this trend, many teams have followed Washington’s example by separating the GM role from the head of hockey operations, a position previously held by MacLellan until Monday.

Leonsis states that Mac has received all the recognition and bears complete responsibility for hockey operations. Furthermore, these businesses have expanded significantly, bringing about more complex requirements. Chris emerges as the clear choice for the role of general manager due to his aptitude. Being a GM entails greater challenges and demands a significant amount of time. In today’s NHL landscape, particularly in a major market, having a president and a GM is crucial. Additionally, we also have a chairman, Dick Patrick, on board.

We are currently under excellent care, and this has been the case for the past 25 years since I took over the team. I believe that what we are witnessing now is simply a natural progression for the organization. Our consistent approach has been crucial to our achievements, and it is evident.

Chris Patrick, who has ties to each of his three predecessors as the GM, contributes to the continuity. Patrick was selected by Poile during the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, recruited by McPhee to join the organization in 2008, and has since collaborated closely with MacLellan for the past decade.

In 1998, Patrick completed his studies at Princeton University and later pursued an MBA at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia in 2006. Following this, Patrick embarked on a career in the financial industry, following a similar path as MacLellan himself. In 2008, when Patrick showed interest in exploring opportunities in the hockey world, McPhee strongly advocated that if Chris wanted to work in hockey, he should do so with the Capitals.

A few years ago, Dick Patrick recounted a conversation where he informed George about Chris’s plans to return home around Thanksgiving and discuss hockey opportunities and seek advice from him. George confidently responded, “If he’s going to pursue a career in hockey, he will do it with us.” At that point, I decided to let them handle it without any interference from me.

“They reached a resolution, which I believe was far less financially rewarding than the career trajectory he was pursuing in hockey, considering the scarcity of excellent job opportunities in that field. However, when I inquired about his satisfaction with his current job, he expressed genuine affection for it. He simply adores the process of scouting players and being an integral part of the industry. The individuals involved in hockey are exceptional human beings, which adds to the overall pleasantness of working alongside people you genuinely enjoy.”

Patrick began his journey in scouting as a part-timer, eventually earning the position of pro scout in 2010. In 2014, when MacLellan assumed the role of GM, Patrick’s responsibilities expanded as he became the director of player personnel. This new role involved overseeing the team’s affiliation with AHL Hershey and managing the pro scouting staff for the Washington team.

After two years, the Bears made it to the Calder Cup final but unfortunately lost to Cleveland. Another two years passed, and Dick and Chris Patrick joined the esteemed ranks as the sixth and seventh members of the Patrick family to have their names forever engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Patrick was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021. He successfully recruited two AHL coaches of the year, namely Spencer Carbery and Todd Nelson. Carbery, who will be serving as the Caps’ bench boss for the second season this fall, is among the notable hires made by Patrick.

One year ago, Patrick was promoted to the position of associate GM. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing pro scouting, analytics, and player contract negotiations. It was evident that he was on a path towards becoming a GM. His team’s consecutive victories in the Calder Cup, winning the championship two years in a row, within a span of less than 20 years, have led to another promotion for him this summer.

Chris Patrick will be accountable to MacLellan, who, in turn, answers to Dick Patrick, the highly respected chairman and minority owner of the team. Dick Patrick, who joined the Capitals in the summer of 1982 as team president, was responsible for hiring Poile in August of that same year as one of his initial duties.

Dick Patrick brought on McPhee around 15 years ago, and in May 10 years ago, he also enlisted MacLellan. Then, on Monday, MacLellan appointed Chris Patrick to take over his position.

Leonsis emphasizes that Chris, who has worked in every position at the company, is at the perfect stage of his career for growth. It’s important to consider his experience and track record of success, as he has proven himself and put in the necessary effort.

Hershey has played a significant role in our achievements. During the lockout in 2004-05, we had three main objectives: to establish a young player foundation, to renovate our training facility in Ballston, and to revamp our AHL franchise.

We accomplished all three tasks simultaneously. Not only did we relocate from Portland to Hershey, but I believe that Hershey played a significant role in shaping us into a successful organization. Hershey is renowned as one of the top franchises in professional sports, and they are eager to be associated with us. Chris has been in charge of that particular aspect for us. Personally, I have been fortunate enough to earn numerous Hershey rings, and I am about to add another one to my collection. This will make it a total of five rings in nearly two decades.

Yes, that’s right. Additionally, we had two other seasons (2006-07 and 2015-16) where we unfortunately finished with losses in the Calder Cup final series.

Leonsis notes that our team possesses a perfect blend of expertise, youth, and energy. He acknowledges that Spencer, as the youngest coach in the League, and Chris, who is likely one of the youngest GMs, embody the forward-thinking approach we need to embrace for future success. However, it’s important to highlight that Chris is not a novice; he has been a valuable member of our organization for 16 years.

Throughout his tenure, he has played a crucial role in numerous organizational accomplishments, many of which have been outlined above. Additionally, he has been instrumental in the Capitals’ ability to identify and acquire talented players from other teams through trades or free agency, a triumph not mentioned previously. Patrick’s involvement in this aspect of the organization as a prominent member of the pro scouting department cannot be understated.

After arriving in D.C., a significant number of players found immense enjoyment in the area, its culture, the workplace, and the thriving hockey environment that MacLellan and his team had cultivated over the past decade. As a result, they eagerly agreed to extend their contracts and remain with the team. This notable group of players includes T.J. Oshie, Brett Connolly, Lars Eller, Michael Kempny, Devante Smith-Pelley, Nic Dowd, Carl Hagelin, Nick Jensen, Brenden Dillon, Conor Sheary, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Matt Irwin, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Sonny Milano, Dylan Strome, and Rasmus Sandin.

The list is truly remarkable. However, Patrick and the professional scouting team weren’t simply searching for any individuals; they were constantly striving to find the perfect match. This is evident as he discusses his vision for the Capitals after the Alex Ovechkin era.

Chris Patrick explains that the future direction and transformation of the team will heavily depend on its current state and composition. He and Mac will collaborate to assess the team’s needs and devise a strategy accordingly. Personally, Chris believes that numerous instances exist where teams have successfully undergone a quick and effective process of retooling or rebuilding.

The current scenario presents a slight variation, yet if we examine the previous two expansion teams, they were expected to select players who typically occupy the third line or serve as the fifth defenseman. However, they managed to assemble impressive teams. It is evident that there are talented players available, and it is crucial to wisely identify the right individuals who complement your team, align with your structure, and suit your desired style of play.

We experienced success with the tear down/rebuild model once, but many other teams have attempted it without achieving the same level of success. It can lead to a never-ending cycle of not having the right personnel and having to start over again. If you choose this path, you need to be fully aware of the challenges involved, as it’s no longer a secret in the League. When we did it, it wasn’t a common approach, but now several teams have tried it, with differing degrees of success.

As I observe other teams in the League that have managed to remain competitive in the past playoffs without undergoing a lengthy and challenging rebuilding process, it instills in me a sense of optimism. It leads me to believe that we can sustain a winning culture and atmosphere in this organization as well. However, our current situation will ultimately determine the path we take.

The Capitals have made significant progress in rebuilding their farm system since their Stanley Cup victory six years ago. They have successfully developed and promoted players like Martin Fehervary, Alex Alexeyev, and Connor McMichael to the main roster. Additionally, several other promising players are on the verge of securing permanent positions with the team in the near future.

Over the past three weeks, the Capitals have successfully added youth and speed to their roster through a series of trades and free agent acquisitions. This process will persist as Patrick and MacLellan maintain their collaborative efforts, which have proven fruitful over the past ten years. Following Patrick’s promotion, two other highly experienced members of the hockey operations team will assume his previous responsibilities. Brian Sutherby, a former Capitals center and seasoned professional scout, will now oversee the pro scouting department. Additionally, Jason Fitzsimmons will become the team’s intermediary between Washington and Hershey.

A decade ago, the Capitals experienced the advantages of appointing an internal candidate as their new general manager. It was a departure from their previous practice of bringing in external GMs throughout their franchise history. Today, they are once again following this approach. Patrick is well-prepared to start immediately, as he has already been working closely with the current staff for years.

Patrick acknowledges that the familiarity factor undoubtedly benefits him, but he believes it also greatly benefits the individuals within the organization. He emphasizes that since he already has established relationships with them, they feel at ease and there is no need for an extended period of getting to know each other.

If I had the chance to join another team, I would reach out to Mac and request his permission to interview five or six individuals and potentially bring them on board. If Mac was kind enough, he might allow me to bring one person. This would be a significant advantage. Our current team is one I have complete faith in and believe they are the best in the industry. Being able to step into this kind of situation is a rare opportunity. Typically, when you take on a new job, you are entering a situation where things have gone wrong, and it takes time to make necessary changes and assemble a competent team. Walking into a situation like this is undeniably advantageous for me.

In the world of hockey media, the term “chemistry” receives more attention than many other actual hockey-related terms. It is commonly employed to evaluate the level of comfort or discomfort between players who are on the same line or part of the same defensive pairing.

The Capitals’ robust locker room culture plays a crucial role in attracting and keeping talent from external sources. However, this culture and positive chemistry are not limited to the players but also extend to the Washington hockey operations and coaching staff. There is a genuine enjoyment of one another’s company and a collective effort in problem-solving and tackling challenging issues. This harmonious environment has directly contributed to positive outcomes on the ice.

Patrick values and plans to nurture that aspect in the future.

He explains, “In fact, I think my ‘outside’ work experience has greatly influenced me in this aspect. Even during my time in finance, I was fortunate to collaborate with exceptional individuals, creating a pleasant work environment. It was stimulating and invigorating. I was surrounded by intelligent individuals who pushed me to grow, without resorting to bullying or intimidation. However, they did hold me accountable for producing high-quality work.”

“I believe that our work environment fosters a culture of respect. While it doesn’t imply that we always have to agree with each other, we encourage diversity of opinions. The key is maintaining mutual respect and recognizing that we are all working towards a common goal. This allows for constructive debates and ultimately leads to improved decision-making. Over the years, we have successfully cultivated such an environment, and one of the outcomes is that people tend to stay with us once they join, reflecting their contentment.”