By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
The search for the next Boston Bruins head coach is well underway, and fans should expect an answer sometime soon. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the front office would conduct final interviews this week, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman doubled down on that report.
On Monday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman was asked to provide any updates he had on the coaching carousel (1:09:38). He believes that the Bruins are “getting down to their list” and that “Marco Sturm has a shot.” It is not a done deal at this time, and Friedman reiterated that but called Sturm a “factor in the conversation.”
Friedman’s report on Sturm adds to what RG’s Jimmy Murphy reported on Friday’s episode of Bruins Vibes – where he noted that “Marco Sturm is the leading candidate as of May 22 at 5:48 pm.” A lot can change in four days (Lane Lambert’s name just appeared in discussions about the Seattle vacancy), so whether Sturm is still the leading candidate is unknown, but we know he is still being considered.
Marco Sturm has been the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the last three seasons, and for the four before that, he was on the Los Angeles Kings’ bench. During his time in the NHL, he worked on the benches of Willie Desjardins and Todd McLellan before being named the head coach of the Kings’ top minor league affiliate. Sturm was an internal option for the Kings when they fired Todd McLellan and a finalist for the San Jose Sharks job last year before they hired Marshfield native Ryan Warsofsky.
As the head coach of the Ontario Reign, Sturm has overseen some of the team’s best results since moving from Manchester, NH, in 2015. The 43 wins this season and 42 last season rank second and third since the relocation, only trailing the 44 wins set in their first season in California. Sturm has also overseen the development of key contributors to the Los Angeles Kings roster, such as Alex Turcotte, Brandt Clarke, and Samuel Helenius.
He started with the Kings organization after impressing the hockey world in 2018. Sturm was the head coach of the German Olympic team and helped lead them to a silver medal. Germany had +350 odds of winning a medal before the tournament started and was 25-to-1 to win the gold medal. Sturm and Team Germany marched through the playoff rounds, going on a three-game win streak and beating Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada. In the gold medal game, the Germans lost to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in overtime, 4-3. Sturm led Germany to their best result in the sport since their first medal win in 1976.
General Manager Don Sweeney outlined what he was looking for in a coach during the post-season press conference; NHL experience was something he was looking for. Sturm, however, does not check that box; his experience elsewhere has put him in a position for teams to pursue him. Coaching an Olympic underdog and succeeding is a great start, and his time in the Kings organization has served well.
Sturm sat down with Mayor’s Manor, a Los Angeles Kings-specific blog, and outlined his interview approach. He is very confident and open about his desire to be an NHL coach, although he knows he cannot control where he ultimately goes. He reflected on his previous interview with San Jose, explaining how that experience helped him adopt a calm, more authentic approach to this year’s interviews, something Sturm believes will serve him well.
That mindset and Sturm’s playing history in Boston could give him a meaningful edge. Sturm’s time with the Bruins lined up with when Don Sweeney and Cam Neely started their time in the front office, giving Sturm firsthand knowledge of the expectations and team culture. While he played here, Sturm never worked for the Bruins after his playing career ended. That positions himself as a new, albeit familiar, voice for the front office.
Sweeney has noted that he is looking to hire somebody who embraces being part of the organization and takes pride in the role. Given Marco Sturm’s experience, familiarity with the franchise, and knowledge of the front office’s expectations, he could be an ideal fit as the Bruins’ next head coach.
Leave a Reply