By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The NHL news cycle runs at a breakneck pace during the Stanley Cup. Between all the electrifying playoff games, dramatic overtime finishes, and headline-grabbing press conference quotes, a decent-sized group of teams are looking to sort out their future with a new head coaching hire. The Boston Bruins are one of seven franchises with a full-time coaching vacancy, and given some recent movement within the candidate pool, it’s worth taking a moment to reassess their established targets and any new names who may have entered the fray.
The first domino fell when Mike Sullivan, the biggest name in the head coaching market, was hired by the New York Rangers last Friday. Although Sullivan was heavily linked to Boston, New York won the race for his signature. Rangers General Manager Chris Drury has wanted Sullivan for years, so when the opportunity presented itself, Drury wasted zero time and backed up the Brinks truck to get his guy. Sullivan was officially announced as the new head coach in New York less than a week after parting ways with Pittsburgh.
The exact terms weren’t disclosed, but Sullivan’s contract was reported to be among the richest in NHL history. While the Bruins were one of the first teams in line for Sullivan, they didn’t quite have the burning desire to bring him in like New York, especially if it was to devolve into a bidding war.
When one door closes, another opens. Rick Tocchet officially hit the open market on Tuesday after Vancouver management chose not to exercise the fourth-year option on his contract. Despite being presented with a lucrative extension to stay with the Canucks, Tocchet preferred to return to the east and be closer to family. The 2024 Jack Adams Award winner has already been reported to have spoken to several teams, and hasn’t limited his meetings to teams on the East Coast. Jimmy Murphy of RG Media reported on Thursday morning that Tocchet is seen as one of Boston’s top targets, and the Bruins are actively working to secure an interview with him.
The market shrank even further when David Carle, the hottest young coach in the game, signed an extension with the University of Denver. Carle had been linked to several NHL openings but ultimately decided none were enticing enough to leave his post at his alma mater and uproot his family to do so. Staying put may be the best decision in the long run for Carle, who has led a dominant Pioneers program throughout his tenure and has become a prominent voice for the evolution of college hockey, recently meeting with NCAA President Charlie Baker to discuss changes to the college game.
Sweeney offered some insight into the state of the coach search after the NHL Draft Lottery, when the Bruins fell two spots and received the #7 overall pick. He confirmed that the Bruins have spoken to some coaches, but haven’t conducted in-person interviews yet. Sweeney added that some of their candidates are still coaching in the playoffs, and that Joe Sacco and Jay Leach are still under consideration.
Sweeney’s note on some coaching candidates still in the playoffs has sparked speculation in Bruins social media circles about names to watch. Familiar names like Marc Savard and Marco Sturm have been mentioned, but another name with growing momentum is Misha Donskov from Dallas. Donskov is in his second season as an assistant on Peter DeBoer’s staff with the Stars. Before that, he was part of the Vegas Golden Knights organization since its inception, progressing from Director of Hockey Operations to a full-time assistant coach under DeBoer and winning the Stanley Cup as part of Bruce Cassidy’s staff in 2023.
Sweeney has a prior connection to Donskov, as both were part of Team Canada during the 4 Nations Faceoff this past February. At 48 years old, he would be a fresh outside voice for a younger Bruins team to guide the new roster. Don’t expect too much movement on this front for a little while. Dallas looks every bit like a legit Stanley Cup contender after stunning Colorado in the first round and taking the first game against Winnipeg. With reinforcements returning to health, they could find themselves in a third straight Western Conference Final, and put any interviews for Donskov on hold.
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