Bruins HC Marco Sturm hints at urgent need in Boston after rough NHL season for David Pastrnak and the rest of the team

After hiring Marco Sturm for the 2025-26 NHL season, the Boston Bruins are expecting to see some big results from their brand-new head coach. Although the odds aren’t precisely in the Spoked B’s favor, David Pastrnak and the Bruins hope to take a step in the right direction.

The Bruins were in for a rude awakening during the 2024-25 NHL campaign, and they are still witnessing the consequences of their dramatic season. While former captain Brad Marchand continues his electric run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the roster in Boston is looking to re-assemble the pieces of their puzzle.

Pastrnak and the Bruins endured several key departures during the past campaign—starting with Jim Montgomery and extending through Brad Marchand, Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo. It was a season of farewells, one that fans in Boston hope never to experience again.

That’s the standard Sturm inherits. While Sturm and the Bruins may not be expected to become contenders overnight, the fanbase will at least hope to see tangible signs of progress.

Marco Sturm, the new head coach for the Boston Bruins ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.

After announcing his coaching staff for the upcoming campaign, Sturm left the door open for one more hire. In particular, one aimed at strengthening the team’s weak link during the past season.

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General manager Don Sweeney confirmed that assistant coaches Jay Leach and Chris Kelly are staying with the team, as well as goaltenders coach, Bob Essensa. In addition, Boston is in the process of hiring another assistant, which Sturm admitted “they are looking [for him to] have some power play experience,” as reported by reporter Scott McLaughlin.

Addressing the elephant in the room

Though featuring Pastrnak on their lineup, the Bruins’ power play was abysmal during the 2024-25 NHL season. Boston’s man-advantage operated at a 15.2 success rate, which ranked fourth-worst in the league.

It was the first time since the 2014-15 NHL season that the Bruins finished in the bottom half of the league in power play percentage. Boston barely improved their mark from the 2012-13 campaign, when they finished with a 14.8 PP%. However, that was a shortened, 48-game season due to the third-major lockout in league history.

Improving the Bruins’ efficiency on the man advantage is paramount for Sturm upon his arrival in Beantown. For the power play to succeed, Pastrnak’s role will be absolutely crucial—the Czech winger leads the franchise in PPG since the 2014-15 season with 122 tallies.