The Boston Bruins are deciding between two candidates as their coaching search nears an end, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
LeBrun reported a formal announcement could happen “early this week.”
Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reported on May 27 that Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love and Ontario Reign coach Marco Sturm had emerged from the pack.
The Bruins missed the postseason this year for the first time since 2015-16. Coach Jim Montgomery got the axe in November following an 8-9-3 start, and interim replacement Joe Sacco was unable to spark a turnaround.
General manager Don Sweeney telegraphed a serious reset to the roster when he went into selling mode at the trade deadline. Even team captain Brad Marchand was dealt, ending his tenure in Boston after 16 seasons.
Assuming Love and Sturm are the two vying for the job, it could be another sign Sweeney is taking a longer team-building view.
Neither Love nor Sturm has coached an NHL team. Sturm has been with the Reign for the last three years, while Love spent one season apiece with the AHL’s Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers before joining Washington’s staff.
Both would seemingly fit the rough outline Sweeney set when he discussed the qualities he wants the next Bruins coach to have.
“Communicating with players nowadays is paramount. Structure, detail, being organized is paramount,” the GM told reporters in April. “You can’t have it and survive. I want a coach who’s gonna evolve a bit offensively, and again, that’s part and parcel with being able to communicate with sometimes younger players and their stubbornness and inexperience.”
A full-scale rebuild probably isn’t in store because the Bruins have some notable veterans signed for multiple years. It looks like Sweeney wants to pivot toward a younger squad, though, which could mean another year or two of landing in the draft lottery.
