The word brutal really sums up the Boston Bruins’ 2024-25 NHL season. It was a tough season for the franchise, ending with a 33-39-10 record and landing in 8th place in the Atlantic Division, which meant they missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The franchise was performing pretty well at their home rink, boasting a record of 20-14-7. But when it came to away games, things were a whole different story, as they ended up with a rough record of 13-25-3.

On November 19, 2024, a significant change took place when head coach Jim Montgomery was let go, and associate coach Joe Sacco stepped in as the interim head coach. “Today, I made a very difficult decision with regards to a coaching change. Jim Montgomery is a very good NHL coach and an even better person. He has made a positive impact throughout the Bruins organization, and I am both grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to work with him and learn from him,” said General Manager Don Sweeney after making this tough decision.

But there was even more in store for the franchise. During the middle of the season, the Bruins made some big changes to their roster. They traded their long-time captain, Brad Marchand, to the Florida Panthers, along with other important players like Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo to other teams. This really shows they’re looking to rebuild. It seems like the franchise is getting close to wrapping up their decision on the coach for the upcoming season.

On X, Pierre LeBrun reported, “On Bruins’ coaching search, my understanding is final interviews will be conducted next week and then a decision to come after that. Not sure who made the cut. Boston has talked to a lot of people. Marco Sturm, Jay Woodcroft, Mitch Love, Luke Richardson, Joe Sacco, Jay Leach among those believed to have interviewed…” The Boston Bruins are wrapping up their search for a new head coach.

According to LeBrun, the organization is keeping some details close to the vest, but a few candidates are starting to pop up as possible successors to interim head coach Joe Sacco. One of the standout names is Marco Sturm. He used to play for the Bruins and is now the head coach of the Ontario Reign, which is the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. Sturm has quite the coaching background, having led Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and enjoying a successful run. This makes him a really attractive choice for the Bruins.

So, it looks like Jay Woodcroft, who used to be the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, is also being considered for the role. Mitch Love, who’s an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals right now, has been getting some buzz for his great track record as the head coach of the Calgary Wranglers, which is the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. He really knows how to bring out the best in young talent, which fits perfectly with what the Bruins are all about when it comes to helping their up-and-coming players grow.

Luke Richardson, the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, has a ton of experience and a solid defensive strategy that might just fit right in with the Bruins’ current lineup. Did you hear that the Bruins just extended their contract with their GM?

The Boston Bruins are taking a huge gamble

The Boston Bruins have decided to extend General Manager Don Sweeney’s contract all the way through the 2027-28 NHL season. This move shows they still have faith in his leadership, even after a tough 2024-25 season. Sweeney, leading the team since 2015, has taken them to the playoffs in eight out of ten seasons, even making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

Team President Cam Neely shared his solid backing for Sweeney, saying, “Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins. He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention. He is continuing to follow that track with a robust and thorough search for our club’s next head coach while also preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft and free agent signing period.” Wow, that’s a whole lot of confidence right there!

Neely pointed out Sweeney’s bold moves at the trade deadline and his continuous work in finding a new head coach, along with getting ready for the NHL Draft and free agency coming up. Yeah, the latest season didn’t really work out for the Bruins, but it’s not like the team has been struggling for years under Sweeney. Boston was a team that consistently stayed at the top of the charts and delivered impressive postseason performances. It’ll be interesting to see how the GM goes about rebuilding the franchise.