To Capitals fans, Boudreau was a highly successful coach who left no swear word unused and once galvanized the team's collection of uber-talented players. To non-hockey fans, he was the guy who reminded them of Hank Hill's dad and made them laugh with his naughty words juxtaposed against cherubic features.
Replacing Boudreau is former Capital Dale Hunter. As a player, he ranks second all-time in penalty minutes, though it should be noted that he was also an accomplished scorer. His work ethic was renown across the NHL, and made him a fan favorite for both of the teams he played for (Quebec and Washington). Perhaps his most well-known "highlight," however, is this nasty check during the 1993 division semifinals which resulted in a then record 21 game suspension.
Hunter will be tasked with unifying a shaky team as Boudreau once did when he joined in 2007. As for "Gabby," he leaves the Capitals as the fastest coach in NHL history to reach 200 wins, and will surely get another job in the near future as the coaching carousel keeps turning.
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