WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- Bruce Cassidy, who has coached Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League the last two seasons, will be named the new coach of the NHL's Washington Capitals.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Cassidy is expected to be named as the successor to Ron Wilson on Thursday.
The Capitals, however, will make the announcement even sooner. They have called a news conference for Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time to introduce a new coach.
The newspaper said that Capitals General Manager George McPhee narrowed his finalists to Cassidy and Glen Hanlon, the coach of the Caps' top affiliate in Portland, Me., and that "all indications ... pointed" toward Cassidy getting the job.
The 37-year-old Cassidy would become the second-youngest coach in the NHL, two years older than Paul Maurice, who guided the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals this spring.
The Caps also would be the fourth team this offseason to hire a first-time NHL coach, joining Anaheim (Mike Babcock), Dallas (Dave Tippett) and the New York Rangers (Bryan Trottier).
