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NHL insider sheds light on situation involving ex-Calgary Flames AHL coach Mitch Love

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Sep 16 2025, 9:52 pm
NHL insider sheds light on situation involving ex-Calgary Flames AHL coach Mitch Love
@TheAHL/X

We are slowly getting some more clarity on the situation involving former Calgary Flames AHL head coach Mitch Love.

Love, who coached the AHL’s Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, spent the past two seasons behind the Washington Capitals bench as an assistant. He was expected to hold that same role heading into 2025-26, but was placed on a team-imposed league due to the NHL investigating the 41-year-old.

The Capitals offered no context as to what Love was being investigated for, leaving hockey fans quite puzzled. Though still being very careful with the situation, NHL insider Frank Seravalli did his best to provide some context on Tuesday.

“I can shed light on some very few, minute details, a lot of which still needs further reporting,” Seravalli said. “My understanding is that an allegation has been made by a woman who had a former relationship with Mitch Love. He was up for multiple other jobs over the course of this past offseason, including talks and interviews that went deep with both the Seattle Kraken and, I believe, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“This is not a new allegation, is my understanding. This is not an allegation that has been made over the course of his time working for the Washington Capitals. As this league investigation is ongoing, it appears that multiple teams had been aware of this, and that potentially impacted their hiring decisions as they decided to go in other directions.”

Prior to joining the Flames organization, Love spent three seasons as the head coach of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and had also spent several years as an assistant with the Everett Silvertips. His time behind the bench began shortly after he had wrapped up his professional career at the conclusion of the 2010-11 campaign.

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