Former Washington Capitals coach Mitch Love heads Shanghai Dragons

Canadian coach Mitch Love has been appointed head coach of the Chinese club Shanghai Dragons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This was announced on January 17 by the press service of the Chinese Hockey Club (HC).

"Mitch Love is the new head coach of Shanghai Dragons," the Telegram channel said.

It is specified that the contract with the 41-year-old specialist runs until the end of the 2026/27 season. Since the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Love has worked as a coach for the Washington Capitals, where Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin plays. Prior to that, he was twice recognized as the best coach of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL).

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Love was suspended from the Washington Capitals team on September 15, 2025, amid an ongoing investigation. It was clarified that Love's name was becoming more and more prominent in the relevant media covering the search for new players, and it was then that the NHL received a letter that was simultaneously sent to one of the teams interested in hiring him. After reviewing the text of the letter, Love was not hired as head coach.

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