Ted Leonsis

Washington Capitals majority owner Ted Leonsis speaks during a July press conference at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. Tim Leone | tleone@pennlive.com

Amid coaching and front office changes for the

and

in the wake of last season, a seeming background event occurred during the summer that may loom large for the affiliation relationship in 2014-15.

Following Washington's development camp in July, new Caps head coach Barry Trotz traveled to Portland, Maine, for a reunion of the 1993-94 Portland Pirates team he coached to the Calder Cup.

It was a demonstration of how Trotz, an NHL head coach since 1998-99, remains connected to his AHL origins.

Troy Mann

"I think that's great," Bears head coach Troy Mann said. "I think he's one of those coaches – I think 16 years in the NHL now – but he hasn't forgotten about his roots and how he's come up through the coaching ladder, as well. He didn't just get something handed to him in the NHL.

"He's actually paid his dues in the American Hockey League and understands how much, really, both teams need each other. That's what I got a sense just spending the week with him [at development camp]. For him to go back, I think it speaks volumes about how he felt about coaching in Portland and his view of the American Hockey League in general."

In Trotz, who follows Adam Oates and Dale Hunter, the Caps have the most AHL-sympathetic coach behind the bench since former Bears head coach Bruce Boudreau was fired partway into the 2011-12 season.

Trotz and Mann have instituted a 48-hour communication rule – they say they won't go more than 48 hours without speaking during the season – that bodes well for Hershey.

Recalls will be determined by performance, not draft pedigree, which will be an aid to Mann in running Hershey's locker room.

"I do think he's going to keep tabs here on us in Hershey," Mann said, "and make sure that him and I are communicating about how each team is doing and specifically how players individually are doing here."

Washington and Hershey failed to make the playoffs in 2013-14. It marked the first time the Bears didn't reach the postseason since the affiliation, renewed for a 10th season in May, began in 2005-06.

In broad strokes, the affiliation, now the second-longest in Hershey history, has been phenomenally successful. The Bears won Calder Cups in 2005-06, 2008-09 and 2009-10 and also went to the Calder Cup Finals in 2006-07 during the greatest five-year run in club history.

But Hershey hasn't won a playoff series since clinching the 2009-10 Calder Cup.

From left, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, new senior vice president/general manager Brian MacLellan, new head coach Barry Trotz and team president Dick Patrick are all smiles during a May news conference at Verizon Center in Washington. After missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years, the Caps hired former Nashville Predators coach Trotz and promoted MacLellan to general manager.

At a May press conference announcing Trotz's hiring and Brian MacLellan's promotion from assistant GM to GM, replacing George McPhee, majority owner Ted Leonsis declared that the Caps "needed to re-bond and make a recommitment to Hershey."

The words heartened Bears President-GM Doug Yingst. As a new season dawns, words now will be measured by deeds.

"We've extended our affiliation for the season," Yingst said. "We've yet to hold discussions on the future, starting in 2015-16. We're hoping that what Ted said at that press conference, that everything comes to fruition and we can improve the affiliation and get back to the winning ways that we had a few short years ago."

Yingst enjoyed a close relationship with McPhee with strong lines of communication. He also has worked with MacLellan, who played in the AHL in New Haven, but that relationship enters a new chapter.

Mann said he had a lot of dialogue this summer with Caps pro scouts Chris Patrick and Jason Fitzsimmons, who were involved in the interview process for Hershey's head coaching hire.

But the Trotz-Mann relationship will be a key factor in revitalizing the affiliation.

"The one thing I've noticed about Barry, he's very structured and very organized," Mann said. "Just how he ran things in July, I found a lot of similarities in how I believe things should be done and need to be done. I think when you're organized and bring structure to the table, I think that goes a long way."

ON TWITTER: @timleone