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McKenzie on Ron Wilson coaching Caps: Don’t hold your breath

Ron Wilson

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson reacts as he watches his team trail the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 late in the second period of an NHL game in Toronto on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

AP

If you judge Ron Wilson by his inability to bring the Toronto Maple Leafs to the playoffs, you’re ignoring a big chunk of his impressive coaching career. Perhaps the highlight of that time was when he helped the Washington Capitals make a surprise run to the 1998 Stanley Cup finals before the Detroit Red Wings dismissed them in little time. Combine that success and his ability to coach an attacking style (not to mention his willingness to embrace technology) and a reunion at least makes some sense.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie believes that there’s little chance of that actually happening, though.

“I know some are talking up Ron Wilson, Part Deux, in D.C., but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen.”

McKenzie is probably correct, but it doesn’t change the fact that Capitals GM George McPhee has some really tough questions to answer this season - starting with his new head coach and what direction the team will take. There are mixed feelings about how long McPhee will take to choose the next bench boss - some say before the draft, McKenzie says it could happen as late as August - yet either way this looks to be a pivotal summer for a franchise suffering from a bit of an identity crisis.