Mitch Korn is widely regarded as one of the top goaltending coaches in the NHL, but now he will take on a new role with the Capitals to relieve his schedule.
“[Korn’s] going to be director of goaltending,” general manager Brian MacLellan said on a conference call with reporters Monday. “He wants to cut back on his schedule.”
It was expected that Korn, who turns 60 in September, would take on a reduced role this offseason. The new role will allow him to remain active with the team, but will not require as much travel.
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Korn joined the Capitals staff in Barry Trotz’s first year as head coach and has helped turn Braden Holtby into a Vezina-caliber goalie. Holtby won the award in the 2015-16 season after tying a league record for most wins in a single season with 48. He was also named a finalist for the award this season but lost to Columbus netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.
Holtby is the second goalie Korn has helped coach to a Vezina. He also served as the goalie coach for the Buffalo Sabres and NHL legend Dominik Hasek. Hasek won four Vezina Trophies and two Hart Trophies as the league MVP during Korn’s tenure.
Replacing Korn as goaltending coach will be Scott Murray, who has been associate goalie coach for the Capitals since 2013 and has worked primarily in Hershey since that time.
“We're in the process of promoting Scott Murray to the NHL team,” MacLellan said, “And then Mitch will work with Scott and our Hershey guy and the [ECHL].”
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