The Boston Bruins had quite a ride during the 2024-25 NHL season, facing some tough challenges and going through some big changes within the organization. From losing Brad Marchand to losing Charlie McAvoy to injury to finishing dead last in their division, the rebuild has been as rough as the initial stages can be. After a promising 2022–23 season with head coach Jim Montgomery, things took a turn for the worse in 2024. The team struggled right out of the gate, and by November, with an 8-9-3 record in the first 20 games, Montgomery was let go.

“Jim Montgomery is a very good NHL coach and an even better person. He has made a positive impact throughout the Bruins organization, and I am both grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to work with him and learn from him,” GM Don Sweeney said after this decision. Joe Sacco, who was an associate coach, stepped up as the interim head coach, though he had a tough time behind the bench. Even with all the attempts to get things back on track, they ended up missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, breaking the longest active playoff appearance streak they held alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But even though losing their captain and franchise player in Marchand, coupled with McAvoy’s shoulder injury can explain away some of their poor results, it doesn’t erase the responsibility of the coach. And now it looks like the organization is moving forward and are currently on the lookout for a permanent head coach. It seems that former Bruins winger Marco Sturm is one of the names being considered for the role.

On X, Jimmy Murphy, NHL reporter for RG Media posted: “As per Elliotte Friedman, former #NHLBruins winger Marco Sturm is very much in the mix to become the next head coach of the Boston Bruins.” Marco Sturm, a Bruin from 2005 to 2011, has been busy building his coaching resume since hanging up his skates. Right now, he’s the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign, which is the affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings.

Before that, he spent a short stint as head coach of the German national team starting in 2015 and was named assistant coach for the LA Kings in 2018. With his background in both international and professional play, plus his knowledge of the Bruins organization, he really stands out as a compelling choice for Boston’s bench. After all a fresh face to lead the team might be exactly what their rebuild needs.

It seems like management is on the lookout for a coach who can connect with the younger players but also earn the respect of the veterans. Sturm’s well-rounded experience might just be what they’re after. So what does Don Sweeney have to say about his team’s prospects for the coming season?

Don Sweeney is positive about the Boston Bruins’ future

Don Sweeney, the General Manager of the Boston Bruins, has made it pretty clear where the team is headed. In response to the rumors about the possible changes, he said, “…We didn’t burn it down. We have a lot of guys. Now a couple of those guys in particular are injured that are big big players and pieces for our group. Now we have to do a better job of building around it and charting a course that says, ‘We’re back.’” He really believes that the Bruins have a solid core of players who can still help the team succeed. But the plan is to retool instead of starting from scratch.

Sweeney’s way of doing things shows he’s dedicated to keeping the team competitive while also making the needed changes to the roster. So, the choice to send Brad Marchand, who’s been with the team for a while, over to the Florida Panthers was really about a bigger plan. It’s all about bringing in new assets and giving younger players a chance to shine, showing that the team is moving towards a fresher lineup while still keeping some of the core in place.

The GM is looking to strike a balance between bringing in fresh talent and keeping hold of seasoned players. His goal? To steer the Bruins through this transitional period and get them back into playoff contention soon.