By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
Over one month has passed since the Boston Bruins wrapped up their disappointing 2024-25 campaign, and the team is yet to name a new head coach. Missing out on big fish hires like Mike Sullivan and Rick Tocchet has forced the Bruins brass to pivot their approach, while other teams have further shrunk the market by picking off other prospective hires.
Missing out on Tocchet, in particular, seemed to significantly impact their search. It was reported that Don Sweeney’s expiring contract was a factor in his not pursuing Boston’s vacancy. Despite initial expectations that Sweeney would ride out the final year before being offered a new deal, he signed a two-year extension within days of the report. The extension effectively shows confidence in Sweeney and, through him, the next head coach.
Who will be the coach is still being determined, though the Bruins appear to be ramping up the search. Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald wrote that Sweeney was no longer waiting to interview coaches who were still involved in the playoffs, which would scratch Dallas’ Misha Donskov off the list, who was considered a favorite for the position. The shift in urgency also suggests the Bruins want to get a new hire finalized sooner rather than later, with the NHL Draft just over a month away.
Elliotte Friedman mentioned on a recent 32 Thoughts Podcast that Boston has interviewed up to 15 candidates. Pierre LeBrun added to this on Thursday by naming Marco Sturm, Jay Leach, Joe Sacco, Mitch Love, Luke Richardson, and Jay Woodcroft among the coaches interviewed. Sturm, Leach, and Sacco have been among the usual suspects from the outset, but the latter three are newer names, and one in particular stands out.
Woodcroft was first linked to the Bruins’ job last week by Frank Servalli during an appearance on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey show. Servalli noted Woodcroft as a leading candidate for the job, and he had interviewed well for the position. Woodcroft may not have the most extensive NHL head coaching experience of the named candidates, but he could be an underrated hire for Boston if offered the role.
Woodcroft started coaching as a video coach with Detroit in 2005. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008, he followed Todd McClellan to San Jose and later Edmonton, climbing the ladder from video coach to full-time assistant coach, AHL head coach, and head coach of the Oilers. He spent 133 games across three seasons behind the bench in Edmonton, assuming the role midseason in 2022. His hire sparked a 26-9-3 second-half run for the Oilers, culminating in their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2006. Woodcroft led the Oilers to 50 wins in his lone full season in charge and was let go early in the 2023-24 season after a slow start.
His background as a video coach could align well with Sweeney’s criteria of structure, detail, player communication, and the ability to evolve offensively. When Woodcroft assumed the interim head coach role in Edmonton, the Oilers were 12th in goal scoring and 23rd in defense. Over their second-half run, they played like a top-six team on both sides of the puck, and a bottom third penalty kill transformed into a top-ten unit. The next year, Edmonton’s power play set an NHL record, converting on 32.4% of opportunities.
Going the route of a “Teacher Coach” could not only benefit the Bruins overall play on the ice, but also the development of their younger players. Woodcroft’s attention to detail and ability to communicate with his players helped to develop prospects in Bakersfield such as Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner, Ryan McLeod, and Vincent Desharnais, who were all vital contributors to the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring. Boston could benefit from similar developmental coaching to tap into the full potential of guys like Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and Fraser Minten.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic wrote about Woodcroft’s background and coaching philosophy while still coaching in Bakersfield. Among the several anecdotes and quotes about Woodcroft throughout the article, this one stood out the most, and could very well stand as a mission statement should he be hired as the next head coach of the Boston Bruins:
“My job, and our job as coaches, is to help each player reach their potential and advance them on in their career. That’s our success as coaches. But that goes hand-in-hand with winning – because everybody wants winners.”
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