Arturs Irbe has spoken

Arturs Irbe talked to Sportacentrs.com (the site is in Latvian, but the video there is probably in Russian). He said that he left his position as Washington Capitals goalkeeper's coach because of the lack of career growth.

Via Sports.ru:

Irbe: "Working as a goalies coach was very interesting and fascinating at first, but now I passed this stage. Two years was enough for me, and don't see myself in that role anymore. Although I have the proposals, including long-term. I want to grow professionally, advance, earn more. Washington, after all, is a very expensive city. I weighed all the pros and cons and decided that in Latvia it would be better for me, besides my son grows. And in terms of life it is so much easier for me at home.

Of course, there was a lot of positive things working for Capitals, but if I'd continue to coach goalkeepers, sooner or later it would become a routine. In addition, there was no career growth. So I decided to stop it."

Q.: And what career growth you expected? Did you want to become a manager?
Irbe: "No way. I asked George McPhee, can I hope for a career for an indefinite period of time, to become an assistant head coach one day, to increase my responsibilites; to which he replied that the goalkeeping coach is the most stable job. Assistants and managers come and go, but goalkeeping coaches are working for years or even decades. They thought that I would be there for many years to work with the goalkeepers, and that it was fully satisfying me. But I thought otherwise. I would like to set some new goals.

Washington offered me a new contract, but after a much thought, I decided not to renew. I've learned a lot working for Capitals and I've learned the whole NHL kitchen, and now I want this knowledge to use in practice."

Another rumor in Russian media was that he didn't go along with Semin because when he was asked if he got a raise, he replied that it all went to Semin's new contract.

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