The Boston Bruins are steadily progressing in their search for a new head coach, and the process appears to be nearing its final stages.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Boston is set to conduct final interviews next week, with an official decision expected to follow soon after. LeBrun shared the update via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the Bruins have spoken to a wide array of coaching candidates. Some of the names reportedly involved in the interview process include Marco Sturm, Jay Woodcroft, Mitch Love, Luke Richardson, Joe Sacco, and Jay Leach.
Joe Sacco, who took over as interim head coach in November following the dismissal of Jim Montgomery, led the team to a 25-30-7 record. While the Bruins failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016, Sacco was navigating a challenging situation that became more complicated after the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and the league’s trade deadline.
The Bruins experienced significant roster and injury challenges throughout the season. Star defenseman Charlie McAvoy was sidelined due to an AC joint injury and subsequent infection sustained during the February international tournament. Additionally, Hampus Lindholm missed the majority of the season with a knee injury. These setbacks were compounded by the mid-season trades of key players such as Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, and Charlie Coyle, which disrupted team chemistry and continuity.
In April, the Bruins’ leadership confirmed that Sacco would be considered during the coaching search, while also making it clear that they intended to carry out a thorough and wide-ranging interview process. General manager Don Sweeney later revealed to Steve Conroy of the *Boston Herald* that the organization was no longer waiting on candidates involved in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This information seemed to rule out Dallas Stars assistant Misha Donskov as a contender.
Sweeney also noted that the organization anticipates naming a new head coach “well before” the NHL Entry Draft in June, signaling that the conclusion of the search is imminent and that the Bruins are eager to move forward with a new leadership direction.
