Lane Lambert, a former Nashville Predators assistant coach under Barry Trotz, has joined the Washington Capitals in the same capacity.
Lambert spent seven seasons with the Predators organization, including the past three as as assistant in charge of running Nashville's forward corps and penalty kill.
The 49-year-old was under contract with the Predators for next season, but seemed like the odd man out on new coach Peter Laviolette's staff. Laviolette, who replaced Trotz in early May, brought in assistant coach Kevin McCarthy to work alongside himself and incumbent assistant Phil Housley.
Washington's hiring of Lambert completes Trotz's coaching staff, which includes fellow assistant Todd Reirden, tasked with coaching the defense, and goaltending coach Mitch Korn, who worked with Trotz throughout Nashville's 15-season existence.
Reirden replaces Calle Johansson, who returned to Sweden after two seasons working under former coach Adam Oates. Korn will take over for Olaf Kolzig, who will remain with the organization in a lesser role in order to spend more time with his family.
Lambert's arrival also means a revised role for Blaine Forsythe, who has held several responsibilities during his eight seasons in Washington. General manager Brian MacLellan told Monumental Network on Thursday that Forsythe will remain with the organization, but where his primary focus will be has yet to be determined.
"His role’s going to be changed a little bit, but he’s going to still be involved with the coaching and the players," MacLellan told Mike Vogel.
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Forsythe could remain in charge of Washington's power play, which finished tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins -- whose power play was run by Reirden -- atop the NHL at 23.4 percent last season. A former amateur scout and video coach, Forsythe's new duties may be more involved in those areas.
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