By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
With the New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Vancouver Canucks making Head Coaching hires in recent weeks, things are beginning to heat up in Boston. While Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville, Adam Foote, and Mike Sullivan are off the market, that hasn’t stopped Bruins management from doing their due diligence, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
“Boston, I’ve heard they’ve interviewed about fifteen guys.“, said Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast (Bruins talk starts at about the 1:30:30 mark). “I asked someone, who do you think Boston’s interviewed? And the response was Who haven’t they interviewed? I’ve mentioned (Marco) Sturm, I assume (Jay) Leach, I think (Jeff) Halpern, and (Jeff) Blashill, I think they’re also in on Mitch Love, Joe Sacco, but I think there’s more and more.“.
It appears Bruins management is casting a wide net in their search for their next Head Coach. Of the six potential candidates mentioned by Friedman, only Leach and Sacco have worked for the Bruins before. Marco Sturm is the only candidate mentioned to play for Boston. He’s currently the Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate the Ontario Reign, having began his coaching career with the German National Team.
Jeff Halpern has won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach on Jon Cooper’s staff in Tampa Bay. His power-play units have been amongst the league’s elite throughout his tenure with the Lightning. Jeff Blashill has been handling the Lightning’s penalty kill after spending seven seasons as the Head Coach of the Detroit Red Wings. Finally, Mitch Love just finished his second year as an assistant with the Washington Capitals. Previously he was the Head Coach of the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. Whether or not one of the six candidates will end up in Boston remains to be seen, however it seems things are getting to start serious in the Bruins’ quest for a full-time bench boss.
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