The Boston Bruins took their time, but they finally announced their new head coach for the 2025-26 NHL season, appointing Marco Sturm to take over behind the bench at TD Garden. Former interim coach Joe Sacco was told to pack his bags, yet he wasted no time sending a subtle statement to David Pastrnak and the rest of the team as he has already found a new job in the league, according to reports.
Sacco took over as interim head coach early in the season after the Bruins parted ways with Jim Montgomery. It wasn’t an easy task for the interim manager, whatsoever, as he was handed a tall order amid a rocky NHL season. Sacco, Pastrnak, and the Bruins were marked by devastating winless skids, including a ten-game losing streak, which best exemplified the disastrous campaign in Beantown.
However, it wasn’t entirely on the coach, and the responsibility should be split through every rank of the organization. One thing was made clear, though—the Bruins don’t want to experience such dismay ever again. Therefore, the franchise decided to split ways with Sacco, and step in a new direction. Hopefully, Sturm will provide Pastrnak and the players with some much-needed stability.
Sacco won’t stick around to watch, however. The former interim head coach has reportedly reached an agreement to become an assistant coach for the upcoming season. His new team? None other than the New York Rangers, where he’s expected to join Mike Sullivan’s staff.
Boston Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco smiles at his news conference following their 1-0 win over the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden on November 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts
Based on reports from The New York Post’s Mollie Walker, Sullivan’s coaching staff will be made up of Joe Sacco, David Quinn, and Ty Hennes, though an official announcement is still in the works.
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Off to the Big Apple
Sacco’s decision to remain in the Eastern Conference by joining a fellow Original Six franchise could be seen as something of a slight to the Bruins. Though they play in different divisions, the rivalry between Boston and New York still burns hot in the NHL, and the former interim coach will no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve when the Rangers face off against the Bruins next season.
Not to say Sacco will hold a grudge against the Bruins, but the way things ended between the two sides may linger in the air when the B’s appear on the Rangers’ calendar throughout the 2025-26 NHL campaign.
First-timer
The Bruins definitely thought their head coaching decision through, being the last team remaining in the NHL’s coaching carousel. After many months of uncertainty, though, the Spoked B finally made its move, announcing the return of a former player as head coach.
Marco Sturm, the new head coach for the Boston Bruins ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.
Sturm will have his first head coaching experience in the NHL, taking the reins for a team trending into rebuild territory. It’s clear expectations won’t be sky-high for Sturm and the Bruins, but some signs of hope would be deeply appreciated.
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“I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,” Sturm stated, according to NHL.com. “Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to feel it again from behind the bench.”
