Caps Name Olaf Kolzig Associate Goaltending Coach

As first reported by Mike Vogel early Thursday, the Washington Capitals have hired former goalie and all-time fan favorite Olie Kolzig to be the teams' associate goalie coach.  The move also promotes scout and former assistant Dave Prior to head goaltending coach to accommodate for the loss of Arturs Irbe, who left the coaching staff a week ago citing "personal reasons."
According to Caps reporter Stephen Whyno, Kolzig will be expected to work with the teams' three (possibly two) excellent young goalies next year full time.  Kolzig has said that he feels he compares best to Holtby in terms of playing style and energy on the ice.
I love this move.  I think Olie is a class act and though he went out kind of sourly, he's still the best goalie this franchise has ever had and will be the fifth retired number to be raised into the rafters possibly as soon as next season.  Kolzig was obviously an outstanding goalie and he should be great for all of the masked men in DC's system in many ways.  This is where he belongs, period.

In other reading from 24/7 day, take a look at my evaluations of John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom.