By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
Yesterday, the Fourth Period hockey insider David Pagnotta reported and posted on Twitter / X that the Boston Bruins and assistant coach Jay Leach have mutually parted ways. Leach, a veteran of NHL coaching circles with a reputation for defensive structure and player development, had been part of the Bruins’ staff working under head coach Marco Sturm.
The split comes as Boston continues to tweak its coaching mix following a season that exceeded expectations, culminating in a 100-point campaign and a 2026 postseason appearance. Even though all the faults of the first-round playoff series elimination to the Buffalo Sabres weren’t entirely on Jay Leach, a change was needed, and there’s speculation another could potentially happen soon.
Leach’s departure opens a role on a high-profile staff that prioritizes structure, two-way responsibility, and development of younger players — all hallmarks of Marco Sturm’s coaching philosophy. The Bruins will likely target candidates who can reinforce a physical, detail-oriented system, add pro and prospect development chops, and complement Sturm’s approach.
Below are three names I think the Bruins should consider interviewing for the vacancy, with brief context on why each could fit under current bench boss Marco Sturm. If you have a suggestion for who you believe should be the next Bruins assistant coach, please let me know in the comments below or interact on my official Twitter/X handle when I share on the socials.
AHL Ontario Reign Assistant Chris Hajt
It’s hard not to gravitate toward assistant coach Chris Hajt, as he and Marco Sturm have worked closely together, guiding the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings’ young talent on the Ontario Reign and providing strong developmental structure. The 47-year-old Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, native has had a long tenure with the Kings’ top minor-pro affiliate as an assistant serving in two tours of duty, leaving briefly to take an opportunity with the Buffalo Sabres.
While under the wing of Sturm in Ontario, the pair had solid regular seasons together, reaching the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs regularly with varying success, with two first-round losses and one division final loss. From my understanding, Hajt is a hands-on player-coach who uses detailed video and analytics, and is a really good teacher with pro players of any age.
If the Bruins plan to revamp the penalty kill and relieve current assistant Chris Kelly of his duties, Hajt could easily slide into that role as well, focusing on the defensive structure. Also, if Kelly is indeed removed from the Bruins anytime soon, the B’s could always hand the penalty killing duties to current B’s assistant Steve Spott, who ran both sides of the special teams in a recent assistant role with a previous team.
OHL Brantford Bulldogs Head Coach Jay McKee
Jay McKee is an interesting name to throw in the hat, and this thought came courtesy of Dominic Tiano of the highly recommended Dom.Hockey website, where the longtime Bruins hockey writer makes a case for the former NHL’er. The 48-year-old Kingston, Ontario, Canada, native has been a longtime head coach in the Ontario Hockey League, making stops with the Erie Otters, his hometown Kitchener Rangers, and, currently, the Brantford Bulldogs.
For a good explanation of the type of defensive coach McKee is, check out the paragraph below, which I got from Tiano’s recent article on the possible Bruins coaching vacancy. Please click the highlighted section to view the whole article for yourselves.
Former NHL Vancouver Canucks Assistant Kevin Dean
Kevin Dean spent 11 years with the Boston Bruins organization, starting in the 2011-12 campaign with the AHL Providence Bruins and finishing with his departure along with head coach at the time, Bruce Cassidy, when both were fired after the 2021-22 season. Dean, now a 57-year-old, was recently released from his duties with the Vancouver Canucks this offseason, along with head coach Adam Foote, as the Canucks look to figure out that disaster on Canada’s West Coast.
The Madison, Wisconsin, native served as an NHL assistant not only in Vancouver but also spent three years with the Chicago Black Hawks. His resume also includes multiple seasons of experience in pro player development and defensive coaching roles in the AHL and ECHL. Dean, who’s currently an assistant coach for Team USA’s World Championships team over in Switzerland, relies on a systems-first defensive pedagogy and teaches fundamentals to prospects and established players. He’s a strong communicator in high-detail tactical work and can be a solid special teams advisor to coach Sturm if needed.
Boston’s vacancy is an opportunity to add a coach who reinforces Marco Sturm’s structured, development-minded approach. All three names — Chris Hajt, Jay McKee, and Kevin Dean — bring different mixes of pro experience, player development, and system emphasis that could benefit the Bruins at this pivotal time for the organization. An ideal hire will balance tactical acumen, developmental instincts, and the ability to connect with both established veterans and rising prospects.
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