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On Monday, Chris Patrick assumed the role of senior vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals.

After serving as Capitals GM for the past decade, Brian MacLellan will maintain his position as president of hockey operations, a title he acquired in 2023. At 65 years old, he will continue to have authority over all facets of hockey operations, with Patrick reporting to him.

Patrick, who is 48 years old, has recently completed his 16th season with the Capitals. He is now the seventh GM in the team’s history and has taken on the role of associate GM for the first time.

Capitals owner Ted Leonsis expressed his excitement in announcing Chris’ promotion to general manager. He described Chris as a committed and diligent executive, well-equipped for this advancement in his career. Ted highlighted Chris’ exceptional vision, vast experience, strong understanding of hockey, and talent for evaluating players, all of which make him the ideal person to lead the team towards success. Ted expressed confidence that Chris will excel in his new role.

In 2008, Patrick became a member of the Capitals, taking on various roles in player development and scouting. Throughout his tenure, he has worked as a pro scout, director of player personnel, assistant GM, and associate GM. As the associate general manager, Patrick was responsible for supervising multiple aspects of the team’s operations, including the analytics department, player contract negotiations, hockey operations staff, player personnel, budget management, and team scheduling.

Furthermore, Patrick oversaw the professional scouting team of the Capitals and maintained a close collaborative relationship with the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of Washington. It is worth mentioning that the Hershey Bears have emerged victorious in the Calder Cup for the previous two seasons.

Patrick played a vital role in developing many Capitals prospects to the NHL level during his time overseeing Hershey. Additionally, he made significant contributions by hiring two highly successful coaches, Spencer Carbery and Todd Nelson, both of whom have received AHL Coach of the Year honors with Hershey. Notably, Carbery was appointed as the Capitals coach on May 30, 2023. In his prior positions, Patrick held the responsibility of scouting drafted players at both the collegiate and junior levels.

His father, Dick Patrick, is the chairman of the Capitals, while his great-grandfather is the esteemed Lester Patrick, a Hockey Hall of Fame player, coach, and executive.

Chris Patrick, a native of Leesburg, Virginia, developed his passion for hockey in the Washington area. He honed his skills by participating in the Capital Beltway Hockey League and representing the Little Caps. After two successful seasons as a forward at Princeton University, he was drafted by the Capitals in the eighth round (No. 197) of the 1994 NHL Draft. However, despite his potential, Chris never pursued a professional career in hockey.

Leonsis expressed his confidence in the current leadership team of the hockey operations department, highlighting the roles of Dick Patrick as chairman, Brian as president, and Chris as general manager. According to Leonsis, these individuals possess the necessary skills and experience to guide the department effectively. Brian’s previous decade of outstanding performance as the head of the hockey operations department, which included winning the Stanley Cup and maintaining the team’s competitiveness, was acknowledged. Additionally, Leonsis praised Brian’s leadership abilities and vision for the team, as well as Chris’ successful track record as an executive and talent evaluator, along with his dedication to maintaining strong partnerships with minor league affiliates. Overall, Leonsis believes that the current leadership team is well-positioned for a prosperous future in the hockey operations department.

MacLellan’s tenure with the Capitals spans 24 seasons, encompassing various roles such as GM, assistant GM, director of player personnel, and professional scout. On May 26, 2014, he assumed the position of GM, succeeding George McPhee.

During MacLellan’s time as GM, the Washington team achieved a record of 449 wins, 244 losses, and 88 ties. This places them as the third-highest winning team in the NHL during that period, with the Tampa Bay Lightning leading with 475 wins and the Boston Bruins following closely with 466 wins. MacLellan’s .631 points percentage is also impressive, ranking as the third highest among GMs with at least 500 games of experience in NHL history. The top two spots belong to Sam Pollock (Montreal Canadiens, 1964-78) with a .685 points percentage and Don Sweeney (Boston Bruins, 2015-present) with a .665 points percentage.

During MacLellan’s tenure as GM, the Capitals achieved an impressive record. They successfully made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs on nine occasions out of his ten seasons. Furthermore, they clinched their first-ever Stanley Cup victory in 2018, secured the Presidents’ Trophy in both 2016 and 2017, and set a franchise record by winning five consecutive division titles from 2015-16 to 2019-20.

MacLellan, who achieved victory in the Stanley Cup as a player for the Calgary Flames in 1989, accumulated a total of 413 points (172 goals, 241 assists) throughout his 10-season NHL career. He showcased his skills as a forward for teams such as Calgary, the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, and Detroit Red Wings, competing in a total of 606 games.