Blaine Forsythe to Replace Tim Hunter as Capitals Assistant Coach

Capitals video coach Blaine Forsythe will replace former assistant coach Tim Hunter on head coach Adam Oates's staff, according to general manager George McPhee.

Hunter's second tenure as an assistant coach in Washington -- he was an assistant under Ron Wilson from 1997-2002 -- ends after just one season. Hunter was brought back last summer to provide experience to a staff that featured two coaches, Oates and assistant coach Calle Johansson, who were rookies at their respective positions.

"We basically hired him to have some experience on our bench because Adam and Calle were green and it worked well," McPhee said. "But at this point, he and Adam think that we should go in different ways."

Forsythe has been with the Capitals organization since 2006, most recently serving as the team's primary video coach. The 37-year-old was an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League from 2002-2006 before joining the Capitals.

"Blaine's got a real good feel for the game," McPhee said. "Terrific hockey sense and sees things and understands things and can break them down and explain them to players real well. Like most coaches these days, they work incredible hours and I thought Adam would like him, in video and just in terms of working with him.

"We've really enjoyed working with him and Adam likes him a lot. He's enjoyed him and [video coach] Brett [Leonhardt] a lot. He got him doing a few practices this year and gave him a lot of responsibility throughout the year with the power play and different things, so he's going to give him some more responsibility this year."