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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

Sturm suited up for the Bruins from 2005 to 2010, a tenure remembered for his speed, scoring touch, and work ethic. Now, after years of building his coaching resume both in North America and internationally, he’s back in Boston—this time behind the bench and tasked with restoring a proud franchise to its winning ways.

He replaces Joe Sacco, who served as interim coach after Jim Montgomery was dismissed in November. The Bruins, once perennial contenders, struggled in 2024-25, finishing last in the Atlantic Division with a 33-39-10 record. The leadership believes Sturm brings the right energy and blueprint to reverse the slide.

A homecoming with purpose

“I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,” Sturm said following the announcement, 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.”

The Bruins are banking on Sturm’s experience and familiarity with the organization to reignite a team that hasn’t advanced past the second round since their Stanley Cup Final run in 2019. His coaching style, rooted in discipline and player development, is expected to bring a fresh voice and vision to a locker room in need of both.

Building a coaching resume through experience

Sturm arrives in Boston after three successful seasons coaching the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the top affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. Under his watch, the Reign posted a combined 119-80-17 record and made the Calder Cup Playoffs each season. Prior to that, he spent four years as an assistant on the Kings’ NHL bench.

His international coaching career also stands out. As head coach of Germany’s national team from 2015 to 2018, Sturm guided the country to a silver medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics—one of the most memorable upsets in modern hockey. He also secured a Deutschland Cup title in 2015 and helped the team reach the World Championship quarterfinals in consecutive years.

Don Sweeney’s message

“Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion,” said general manager Don Sweeney. “His path—playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels—has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity.”

Now, he returns not as a player but as a steward of a team in transition. “We’re embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be,” Sweeney added.

A league-wide coaching carousel

Sturm’s hiring is part of a broader trend this offseason, as several NHL teams look to reset behind the bench. Other recent hires include Dan Muse (Penguins), Lane Lambert (Kraken), Jeff Blashill (Blackhawks), Rick Tocchet (Flyers), Adam Foote (Canucks), Joel Quenneville (Ducks), and Mike Sullivan (Rangers).

Each of these moves reflects the evolving demands of NHL coaching—where communication, player development, and system adaptability are just as crucial as tactical acumen. For the Bruins, the hope is that Marco Sturm, with his blend of old-school grit and modern experience, is the right leader at the right time.

The Bruins no longer resemble the perennial playoff threat capable of giving any team in the NHL a run for their money. They now appear fragile and exposed in an environment that feels unfamiliar. Boston looks incongruous with its own status quo and surroundings, seemingly trending toward a rebuild—painfully shutting the uncharted championship window until further notice.

Whoever takes over behind the bench at TD Garden will face a tall order. One of the NHL’s giants has taken a beating and is hanging on the ropes. It’s up to Boston’s next head coach to get the Bruins back on their feet—but the outlook is bleak.

The Bruins parted ways with several of their top assets this past NHL season, including longtime captain Brad Marchand, who is now thriving in Florida, as well as veterans like Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo. A new era of Bruins hockey is brewing—but it’s one that will take time to establish and refine, with hard lessons along the way.

That’s the landscape the team’s next head coach will inherit—and with an announcement reportedly looming, the Bruins have made their decision on Sacco. “Boston informed Joe Sacco he will not remain head coach,” insider Elliotte Friedman stated.

Tick-tock, tick-tock

“Expect the Bruins to announce their coaching hire early this week. My understanding is that they’re down to 2 candidates. They did in-person, final interviews with candidates last week,” insider Pierre LeBrun reported on his X account.

Based on the reports, the decision will be made between Jay Woodcroft and Marco Sturm, whom the Bruins have shown great interest throughout the entire process of searching for Sacco’s replacement.

Pastrnak and the Bruins were marked by heartfelt departures during the past NHL campaign, marked by the firing of Jim Montgomery and the trades out of Boston of captain Brad Marchand, and leaders like Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and Trent Frederic.

Their roster is looking unrecognizable from that of less than a year ago, and with so many changes, the Spoked B’s identity has endured several twitches, and it’s yet to be defined. The team’s culture will be decided—largely—by the new head coach’s appointment, yet that’s a still an open question in Boston.

It won’t stay that way for far too long, nevertheless. According to reports around the NHL, the Bruins have narrowed their search down to three contenders to stand behind the bench at TD Garden during the 2025-26 campaign. But there’s a catch, too.

“Jay Woodcroft, Mitch Love, and Marco Sturm are among the favorites as potential hires as head coaches for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken,” insider Kevin Weekes stated on his X account, formerly Twitter.

In that order

While Weekes’ statement left the door open for the three candidates to land with any of the NHL organizations, it seems most probable that each connects the dots in a straight line to a specific franchise. This would mean Woodcroft is reportedly signing with the Bruins, while Love and Sturm would take over in Pittsburgh and Seattle, respectively.

On that note, Bruins reporter Scott McLaughlin provided some more clarity. “I do think at least Woodcroft and Sturm remain serious candidates for the Bruins as they approach the end of the process. Don’t have a great feel for where things stand with Love [to be honest]. Lot of smoke around Love landing with Pens,” he said.

The Americans are world champions in ice hockey once again, putting an end to years of heartbreaking defeats in the IIHF tournament. While it may not be the most prestigious prize in international hockey, it’s a significant achievement for many of the players who joined Team USA’s lineup after their NHL teams fell short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The USA entered the 2025 IIHF World Championship as relative underdogs—lacking the household names and superstar firepower of teams like Canada, who were shockingly ousted by Denmark in a quarterfinal upset for the ages. But against all odds, Team USA walked out of Sweden with gold medals around their necks and an immortal snapshot: the trophy held high in triumph.

It may not be a storyline destined for documentaries or epic films, but the crowning moment at Avicii Arena was the perfect way for many players to wrap up their seasons and head into the offseason with a much-needed breath of fresh air. For Jeremy Swayman, it was exactly the kind of ending he needed after a turbulent year with Sacco‘s Bruins—a season where he was put through the wringer.

“I tell you what, this tournament and this group rejuvenated me as an individual,” Swayman admitted after the title ceremony, per NHL.com. “I gained so much more confidence. I found my game again. I was happy again. I just learned so much.

“This year was obviously an up and down year for me personally, and to come here and be surrounded by such quality human beings and getting a job done, that’s a turning point for me in my life. I couldn’t be more excited for it.“

Turning the page

Swayman fell short of the expectations placed on him by the Bruins during the 2024-25 NHL season. Entering the year, Boston traded Linus Ullmark—an unmistakable vote of confidence that signaled their belief in Swayman to seize the starting role and run with it. But things didn’t unfold as the Bruins had hoped.

Swayman wrapped up his fifth NHL season posting career-lows across the board. He recorded a 3.11 goals-against average and a subpar .892 save percentage—both ranking fifth-worst among goaltenders who played at least 42 games last season. To make matters worse, Swayman allowed more goals than any other goalie in the league, conceding 176 tallies.

However, Swayman showcased a completely different facet of his game while representing the Stars and Stripes at the IIHF World Championship. He finished the tournament with a stellar 92.05% save percentage, a 1.69 goals-against average, and two shutouts—one of which came in the gold medal game when it mattered most.

Not many envisioned the Bruins to turn into a complete trainwreck heading into the 2024-25 NHL season, but they did, and changes are needed immediately in Boston.

Joe Sacco was appointed as interim head coach early in the season, filling in for Jim Montgomery, who had led the Bruins to the best regular season in NHL history just two years ago. Since the decision, Sweeney, Sacco, and the Bruins endured a devastating season, while Montgomery joined the St. Louis Blues, and guided them to a playoff berth after an incredible streak in the final stretch of the regular season.

It’s impossible for Sweeney and the Bruins not to feel some level of remorse over their decision, but that’s water under the bridge now—the focus shifts to finding the best possible coach to lead the team in Beantown.

Heading into a pivotal offseason, underlined by the major question mark surrounding the head coaching job, Joe Sacco learned where he stands in the race after Sweeney’s latest update.

During the Bruins’ end-of-season press conference on Wednesday morning, Don Sweeney announced the Bruins have started a head coaching search going into the offseason. Moreover, Sweeney revealed Joe Sacco is one name in consideration, following his debut season as interim coach in Boston.

Just what Boston is looking for

Sweeney stated that the franchise is seeking a coach who can help the roster ‘evolve offensively,‘ adding that he hopes the next bench boss brings some level of NHL exposure to the table.

With the latter comment, Sweeney may have shut the door on David Carle, who’s become a frontrunner for almost every coaching opening in the league. The University of Denver and Team USA U-20 head coach has much buzz surrounding him as he’s linked to several teams.

However, his lack of NHL experience could prove a decisive factor for some front offices—especially those that believe they’re just one step away from contention, as Sweeney and the Bruins seem to think. Boston’s core is aging; while their window isn’t shut, it might not survive the risk of an ‘experimental hire‘—which is how some perceive giving Carle his first NHL coaching opportunity.

There is no defnite answer on what role Sacco will have in the Bruins during the 2025-26 campaign. Every card is still in play at the moment, setting the table up for a dramatic offseason in Beantown, one in which anything can happen.

The Bruins moved on from veteran leader Brad Marchand, leaving a void at the captain role, which is most likely to be filled in by Pastrnak next season.

However, that’s all in the future, and the players in Boston aren’t quite ready to move on from this past campaign, at least not without taking important lessons from it, hoping to right the ship in the 2025-26 NHL season.

“Not a great year, not really by any stretch,” McAvoy said in conversation with the media. “Some pockets of good memories, I guess, but overall really a year to forget, with an unfortunate ending on my side. It’s all just motivation to not feel like this again. Never been here and I don’t want to be here again. I’m excited to put a close to this chapter, be done with it and honestly just get it behind me.”

The Spoked B means more than the C

While Pastrnak is the clear-cut favorite to succeed Marchand as the Bruins’ captain in the upcoming campaign, the 28-year-old Czech forward made an honest statement on how the leaders behave in the organization.

“The leaders I had around me — it was never about who wears the C or who wears the A,” Pastrnak admitted. “Everybody in the room is equal here. It’s not about one guy. It’s going to be [many] of us, and we need to be working together.”

Dream turned to nightmare

It was a very challenging season for McAvoy, who in addition to the Bruins’ struggles, suffered a severe injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off. As he reflected on the past campaign, the star blueliner spoke about the physical and emotional toll his injury from the 4 Nations had on him.

“I’ve gone through so much because of that damn experience,” McAvoy added. “Like, it cost me my season. It cost me my sanity in a lot of ways. Like, none of this has been easy, and I get emotional. It was an incredible experience, and I waited my whole life to be a part of something like that.

“But the way that it ended, and the aftermath of it, and what I had to go through, it cost me a lot more than I was willing to give, and that’s unfortunate, but it’s over now. And now I can finally put it to bed. And after we talk about it, I don’t want to talk about it ever again, honestly. Because it did cost me. It cost me a lot.”

McAvoy has not played since his participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where he patrolled the blue line for Team USA. It was during that international competition that he sustained a shoulder injury (AC joint), further complicated by an infection that slowed his recovery. McAvoy left his mark on the tournament with a memorable collision against Canadian superstar Connor McDavid, and his absence — particularly his physical presence and defensive reliability — has been keenly felt by the Bruins.

Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters that McAvoy will not be available for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, nor for the final two regular-season games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils.

“Just not ready to play, that’s the bottom line right now,” Sacco said, per NHL.com. “The medical staff feels he’s not ready to play the last two games after tonight.” While disappointing, the news was largely expected given the amount of time that has passed since McAvoy last saw action on the ice.

Looking to the future with McAvoy

Although McAvoy has resumed skating with the team during recent practice sessions, he has not yet reached the stage where the coaching staff is comfortable reinserting him into game competition.

In a different scenario — had the Bruins been contending for a playoff berth — the timeline might have been accelerated. However, the team’s recent ten-game losing streak and mathematical elimination from postseason contention have shifted the focus toward long-term health and stability.

McAvoy and the Bruins: What’s next?

In the current season, McAvoy recorded 7 goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 50 games. While his physical style remains a defining feature of his game, the Bruins hope to see greater offensive production from their cornerstone defenseman once he is fully healthy. The organization is prioritizing his complete recovery with the expectation that McAvoy will return in peak form next NHL season, ready to anchor the blue line and help lead the Bruins back to contention after a turbulent campaign.

The Bruins were officially eliminated from the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs after the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation. However, the news only confirmed the inevitable, as the ten-game winless skid had already made it clear to fans in Boston that this Spoked B’s squad wasn’t close to being a playoff-caliber team.

With five games left in their NHL season, Sacco and the Bruins really don’t have anything left to play for. Their pride has been long gone after enduring a series of whooping defeats during their recent skid, and now they are only battling to stay above the last place in the East, where they are currently tied with the Flyers.

The Bruins have hit rock bottom this season. At one point, they languished dead last in the East in April—a feat not accomplished since 1997. With nothing left to play for, Boston was just hoping to get one back and snap their apparently endless slump. That they did, but Swayman’s postgame statement and promise felt a bit too big for the deflating situation in the organization.

“It feels so good, unbelievable,” Swayman said postgame, per NHL.com. “A big weight was released from all of our shoulders. It’s a gratifying feeling to go through it, and finally get out of it and feeling good about our game. It’s so good to see the Garden happy again. It’s a feeling that we’ve missed and it’s addicting, so we’re not going to let that [a losing streak] happen again.”

Out of context

Obviously, fans want to see their team win every night they walk into the arena and sell out the barn. However, Swayman’s excitement, while reasonable as Boston finally ended its slump, felt a bit exaggerated given the current situation.

The Bruins missed out on the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Yet, that time Boston missed out because of a tie-breaker with the Detroit Red Wings, and was at the gates of making the postseason. This time around, the team’s performance has been inexcusable.

Pastrnak’s statement

David Pastrnak, who most within the organization expect to become the new captain during the 2025-26 campaign, put on a show against the Hurricanes. ‘Pasta’ scored a natural hat trick during the 5-1 victory, including his 40th goal of the season. However, not him nor the team will be popping champagne bottles about it.

“It’s a tough situation we’re in as a team to comment on that,” Pastrnak admitted. “It’s a confidence booster and to score 40 I’ll use that as motivation to become a better player for the upcoming days and next season, but right now, I wish we would be in a different situation.”

Vying to avoid a new losing streak and finish the season in, relatively, high spirits, the Bruins will travel to the state of New York, where they’ll take on the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on April 6th.

What began as a promising season for Boston has spiraled into a nightmare, leaving fans and analysts questioning what went wrong. Head coach Joe Sacco addressed the situation candidly, attributing the team’s struggles to fatigue and an inability to manage key moments effectively.

“They’re tired, they’re trying to change, they’re trying to get off the ice,” Sacco admitted in a postgame interview. Despite their efforts, the Bruins’ failure to capitalize on crucial opportunities and poor game management have been decisive factors in their collapse.

Sacco emphasized the need for better momentum control, acknowledging that the team must quickly regain composure when opponents seize the initiative. “It’s about managing the game properly and understanding that when they do grab momentum, we have to be able to grab it back as quickly as we can. It’s just something that we have to work on,” he said, making it clear that the Bruins face significant challenges ahead.

Sacco highlighted the Bruins’ inability to manage the second period effectively. “It’s a game of momentum. There’s always momentum swings during the course of the game. For us in period two, sometimes it’s about being able to manage the game the right way. For example, I think it was the second goal. We have a defense pair that’s out there for a little while,” Sacco explained.

The decline of the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry

The once-fierce rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens has lost its edge. For years, Boston dominated the matchup, but now the roles have reversed. The Canadiens, revitalized and playoff-bound, are proving to be a significant challenge, while the Bruins are struggling to find answers. The departure of former captain Brad Marchand has left a leadership void, and their continued slump raises serious questions about their future.

Can the Bruins turn things around?

The biggest question facing Boston is whether they can regain their form and revive the intensity of their historic rivalry with Montreal. This latest defeat was not just a blow to their pride but a stark reminder of how far they have fallen. The team’s ability to overcome adversity and rediscover its identity will be crucial in determining its trajectory for the rest of the NHL season.

Boston showed no real tools to beat Montreal. The Canadiens jumped to a 2–0 lead with goals from Christian Dvorak and Cole Caufield in the second period. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki also added a goal and an assist each. The Bruins’ only goal came from Elias Lindholm in the third period.

After the game, Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov expressed his frustration in what has become a tense atmosphere for the Boston team following the departure of Marchand, the longtime star who left the roster to join Florida. Joe Sacco’s squad is in a free fall with no end in sight.

Nikita Zadorov’s harsh admission after Bruins’ losing streak

“The other teams are just hungrier than ours. They want to win more, that’s the bottom line. We’re just not hard on the puck. We’re easy to play against,” Zadorov said after loss against Canadiens, according to NHL.com.

What did head coach Joe Sacco say about the Bruins’ loss?

“It’s going to take 60 minutes of consistent hockey right now. And I think we have moments where we play well, but not long enough, during the course of a game. We have to be able to sustain more a 60-minute effort and I think that’s what it’s going to take,” Boston interim coach Sacco said.

Bruins’ losing streak

It’s clear this is not an easy time for Boston. Marchand’s move to a direct contender like Florida delivers not only a blow on the ice but may also be affecting the current roster’s morale and sense of commitment. The loss to Montreal ties the eighth-worst streak in Bruins history, with the most recent being a 10-game skid from January 16 to February 10, 2010.