Capitals Raid Hershey, Hire Bob Woods as Assistant; Re-sign Collins and Sloan

The Washington Capitals announced today they have hired Bob Woods, who lead the AHL Hershey Bears to the Calder Cup this past season, as an assistant to head coach Bruce Boudreau.

Woods, a former defenseman, replaces Jay Leach and will work with the defense.

Here's the press release:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have hired Bob Woods from the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hershey Bears as an assistant coach, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Woods, 41, served as Hershey’s head coach last season and guided the Bears to a Calder Cup championship in six games against the Manitoba Moose. He was an assistant coach with the Bears and helped current Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau lead the Bears to a Calder Cup title in 2006. Woods was appointed head coach of the Bears when Boudreau was hired by the Capitals on Nov. 22, 2007.

Also, the Caps picked up the contracts of defensemen Tyler Sloan and Sean Collins. Both players spend most of the 2008-09 season with AHL Hershey, but both did see some time with the parent club.

Sloan played in 26 games with the Capitals, registering one goal and four assists for five points and a plus-four rating. He also accumulated 14 penalty minutes. He appeared in two playoff games, with one assist and a plus-one rating.

Collins made 15 appearances for Washington, with one goal and one assist for a plus-one rating with 12 penalty minutes.

Collins, scheduled to be a restricted free agent, signed for two years. Sloan signed a one-year extension.