The Washington Capitals lost a number of critical players due to free agency, the expansion draft, and a salary dump over the offseason. They also have seen several important staff members depart behind the scenes as well, including former Director of Game Entertainment Michael Wurman.

Tuesday afternoon, the Capitals announced that head athletic trainer Greg Smith has retired. Assistant athletic trainer Ben Reisz, a veteran of ten seasons with the Capitals, is also leaving the team to purse other opportunities.

Off the sand and at a show with @breisz A post shared by Greg Smith (@smittycaps) on Aug 22, 2017 at 5:19pm PDT

Smith, affectionately known as Smitty, spent 18 seasons with the Caps, including the entire Ovechkin Era in DC. Smith was invited to the 2017 All-Star Game last season as part of the Metropolitan Division All-Stars.

Let the fun begin pic.twitter.com/rLDHalzqPF — Greg Smith (@Smittycaps) January 28, 2017

Smith announced his departure from the organization several weeks ago in a Twitter profile update: “Former-Head Athletic Trainer- Washington Capitals 1999-2017; Owner-Pivot PT.”

Smith called retiring “a hard decision” and thanked owner Ted Leonsis in a tweet.

Thank you to @TedLeonsis and MSE family for 18 great yrs. It was a hard decision to give up a job I loved. Time to reconnect w/ love ones https://t.co/rjm9qHweuM — Greg Smith (@Smittycaps) September 12, 2017

Per CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Tarik El-Bashir, Smith’s contract actually ended in June, but he stayed on during the summer to help with the transition.

Although Smith's contract expired in June, he stayed around this summer to assist in the transition to Serbus and Co. #Caps — Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) September 12, 2017

“It’s been a great 18 years behind the bench in Washington, and unfortunately I made the hard decision to reconnect and spend more time with the family,” Smith told CSN. “I haven’t missed one of my kids’ sporting events this summer.”

Receive my 1500 Game award from the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society last night A post shared by Greg Smith (@smittycaps) on Jun 19, 2015 at 5:16pm PDT

Smith owns Pivot Physical Therapy, which has 245 locations in six different states (plus DC).

“Physical therapy is more about the relationship between really great people that care about you and want to make you better,” Smith says in a promotional video on the PPT website. “We want to help people succeed at their goals. Sometimes it’s getting back on the athletic field, sometimes it’s just getting back in the game of life and being able to play with their grandkids or walk the shopping malls.”

Under Smith’s guidance last season, the Capitals were the healthiest team in the league. Smith also helped Alex Ovechkin deal with two painful lower-body injuries during the postseason and keep him on the ice.

“We would like to thank Greg and Ben for their service, commitment and dedication to the Capitals,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement. “On behalf of everyone in our organization, we wish them both all the best in the future.”

JOE LOUIS ARENA, lots of memories, some good, some bad. Getting a few pics with staff together always nice. #nhl #CapsWings #caps pic.twitter.com/3qP96DkwQL — Greg Smith (@Smittycaps) February 18, 2017

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tweeted a photo posing with Smith after scoring his 500th goal, saying “u huge part of all we do n we never win without u!!”

@smittycaps n benny wish u good luck…will miss u boys (( u huge part of all we do n we never win without u!! thx for take care of us!!! pic.twitter.com/HNnuSEEwL7 — Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) September 13, 2017

Forward Tom Wilson also posted a thank you to Smith.

Thank you @smittycaps and @breisz for everything you have done. Two of the "behind the scenes" guys, your hard work and commitment to the team day in an day out was second to none. It was an absolute privilege to have you two guys looking after me and the boys over the years and you will be missed. Congratulations on 18 seasons with the Caps Smitty and 10 seasons Benny. See you soon. A post shared by Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) on Sep 12, 2017 at 1:08pm PDT

“Two of the behind the scenes guys, your hard work and commitment to the team day in an day out was second to none,” Wilson said.

In the release, MacLellan also announced the hiring of former Coyotes trainer Jason Serbus as the team’s new head athletic trainer, while Michael Booi, previously of the Coyotes as well, will be the new assistant athletic trainer. Cleo Bates, formerly of the Dallas Stars, will be the team’s new massage therapist.

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