Speculation: Who should the Bruins hire as their next Head Coach?

[TP70BruinsCup]

It would be fun to watch

Like the year Mike O’Connell stepped behind the bench……..aaaaand we lost to NJ in round one

 

[Ladyfan]

Like the year Mike O’Connell stepped behind the bench……..aaaaand we lost to NJ in round one

It would never happen

 

[BruinDust]

It's mind boggling that Mike Sullivan has 27 votes.

47 between him and Torts. One guy has missed the playoffs 4 consecutive years (Torts) and the other (Sullivan) is going for his 3rd consecutive. Unreal.

 

[Dr Hook]

47 between him and Torts. One guy has missed the playoffs 4 consecutive years (Torts) and the other (Sullivan) is going for his 3rd consecutive. Unreal.

It's the devil you know effect, I guess. Both guys have Cups and have coached some great teams, even if they are now past their sell-by date. I really hope Sweeneely are committed enough to change that they go outside the carousel/Boston ties for the right person.

 

[BruinDust]

It's the devil you know effect, I guess. Both guys have Cups and have coached some great teams, even if they are now past their sell-by date. I really hope Sweeneely are committed enough to change that they go outside the carousel/Boston ties for the right person.

Even that is debatable. Since 2004, for my money Torts has had one solid team when he coached the 2012 and 2013 Rangers and won a few rounds (ironically the Bruins laid waste to his 2013 Rangers in the playoffs). Then another coach came along and got them further than he ever did in 2014 making a cup final.

Despite having two of the three best forwards of their generation in Crosby and Malkin, Sullivan has just one playoff series victory since those back-2-back cups and that was they very next year. He's about to go 7 years since his last playoff series win.

Just a couple of relics of yesteryear I don't get why anyone would want either of them given their complete lack of success as coaches in our recent life-time. What is Bob Hartley doing these days? How about Mike Keenan? They have cups too.

 

[Dr Hook]

Even that is debatable. Since 2004, for my money Torts has had one solid team when he coached the 2012 and 2013 Rangers and won a few rounds (ironically the Bruins laid waste to his 2013 Rangers in the playoffs). Then another coach came along and got them further than he ever did in 2014 making a cup final.

Despite having two of the three best forwards of their generation in Crosby and Malkin, Sullivan has just one playoff series victory since those back-2-back cups and that was they very next year. He's about to go 7 years since his last playoff series win.

Just a couple of relics of yesteryear I don't get why anyone would want either of them given their complete lack of success as coaches in our recent life-time. What is Bob Hartley doing these days? How about Mike Keenan? They have cups too.

Yes, clearly, their best coaching years were long in the past. They had mojo at one time, though. It's just been a while. They get votes for name recognition I am sure. To be fair to Sully, I always thought he got shafted by the B's in his stint here: he deserved better. I could just about stomach him as our next head coach if he came in determined to get it right this time. But truly, I don't want either guy.

 

[BruinDust]

Yes, clearly, their best coaching years were long in the past. They had mojo at one time, though. It's just been a while. They get votes for name recognition I am sure. To be fair to Sully, I always thought he got shafted by the B's in his stint here: he deserved better. I could just about stomach him as our next head coach if he came in determined to get it right this time. But truly, I don't want either guy.

Sullivan was simply over his head back in 2004, didn't have enough experience behind the bench that first go around. Julien took him to school in Round 1 that year. And then the 2nd year the team was just brutal and he got tossed out with the rest of that regime. Hindsight they would of been no worse off had they allowed him a 3rd season but they wanted wholesale change to sell the fanbase.

It's just am disgusted by the concept of bringing back the coach they had 2 decades ago. From an era they went out of their way to close the book on. If he had some form of recent success, maybe it would be more palatable, but instead just looks like Sullivan ended up the right place at the right time in 2016.

 

[stocker]

Hire Don Cherry He’s 91 going on 25.

 

[22Brad Park]

If I’m the GM and I’m possibly on thinning ice I am going with people I know and trust

I think if Sullivan becomes available he is here otherwise i bring back Sacco who has developed Geekie and has done a masterful job in the 35 day retool

If Carle really would come - home run

And not on list

Thst presents a problem though because then you making the decision for short term gain which is save your job not the longterm health of the franchise.

 

[VTBruin37]

It's the devil you know effect, I guess. Both guys have Cups and have coached some great teams, even if they are now past their sell-by date. I really hope Sweeneely are committed enough to change that they go outside the carousel/Boston ties for the right person.

Donskov. New system, new coach, new players= new era.

 

[PlayMakers]

If I’m the GM and I’m possibly on thinning ice I am going with people I know and trust

I think if Sullivan becomes available he is here otherwise i bring back Sacco who has developed Geekie and has done a masterful job in the 35 day retool

If Carle really would come - home run

And not on list

I think Carle would be better suited to a team that's building from the ground up, with teenagers. It's what he knows and he can learn what he doesn't know in the first year or two as he develops those guys and his team.

Donskov is my choice. He's a guy that can work with a mix of players, like what we're going to have in our re-tool. Love his ability to think tactically and work with players. He's been around the best in the game. Has the Sweeney connection from 4Nations.

 

[chrisab123]

Donskov. New system, new coach, new players= new era.

I like that idea but for the reasons you mentioned, especially new system I can't see Neely/Sweeney going that direction. I honestly can't see them going outside of the Bruins ties again. Much like UM did with finding their "Michigan Man" in Football. I'd think the next hire is someone who either wore the sweater or has some ties to the area/organization.

 

[ODAAT]

I think Carle would be better suited to a team that's building from the ground up, with teenagers. It's what he knows and he can learn what he doesn't know in the first year or two as he develops those guys and his team.

Donskov is my choice. He's a guy that can work with a mix of players, like what we're going to have in our re-tool. Love his ability to think tactically and work with players. He's been around the best in the game. Has the Sweeney connection from 4Nations.

I have to think that Sweeney got to know Donskov pretty well during the 4 Nation`s so might not be unrealistic, would Dallas let him go?

 

[Dr Hook]

I have to think that Sweeney got to know Donskov pretty well during the 4 Nation`s so might not be unrealistic, would Dallas let him go?

For a head coaching gig? I should think so- unless I am just creating something out of whole cloth here, I believe it is standard practice for teams to let assistants go who get tapped for head coaching jobs.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I have to think that Sweeney got to know Donskov pretty well during the 4 Nation`s so might not be unrealistic, would Dallas let him go?

I don’t think they’d have a choice if it’s a higher position. Unless they were willing to fire DeBoer and promote Donskov.

 

[DKH]

Sullivan can be taken off ~ no way no how even if they wanted him. Makes sense when you think about it

Nate Leamen guy to watch

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I like that idea but for the reasons you mentioned, especially new system I can't see Neely/Sweeney going that direction. I honestly can't see them going outside of the Bruins ties again. Much like UM did with finding their "Michigan Man" in Football. I'd think the next hire is someone who either wore the sweater or has some ties to the area/organization.

I think the moves Sweeney made at the deadline show at least some indication that management has a desire to go in a new direction.

That he pegged Donskov for the Team Canada coaching staff when he could have chosen any number of head coaches in the league instead, shows that he understands Donskov’s value. That his team won that the tournament doesn’t hurt either.

I also believe that with Donskov’s CV, he has likely forged many connections around the league which would aid in him choosing a competent and creative support staff.

I owe @Over the volcano for putting the finger on this guy. Wasn’t on my radar before he mentioned him and I was honestly a little distraught considering the Bruins options. But I am firmly set on Donskov being the guy now, both in that I think he’ll be the choice… and that I think he will be successful.

 

[DKH]

Changed vote to Leaman

 

[Over the volcano]

I think the moves Sweeney made at the deadline show at least some indication that management has a desire to go in a new direction.

That he pegged Donskov for the Team Canada coaching staff when he could have chosen any number of head coaches in the league instead, shows that he understands Donskov’s value. That his team won that the tournament doesn’t hurt either.

I also believe that with Donskov’s CV, he has likely forged many connections around the league which would aid in him choosing a competent and creative support staff.

I owe @Over the volcano for putting the finger on this guy. Wasn’t on my radar before he mentioned him and I was honestly a little distraught considering the Bruins options. But I am firmly set on Donskov being the guy now, both in that I think he’ll be the choice… and that I think he will be successful.

It'd be real interesting to see who they'd surround him with though, he's done everything but be a head coach. Who would he bring with or would Sweeney try and insulate him with guys who've had head coaching experience.

 

[mjhfb]

What's Mike Milbury doing these days?

 

[ODAAT]

I don’t think they’d have a choice if it’s a higher position. Unless they were willing to fire DeBoer and promote Donskov.

ah ok, I wasn`t sure if opposing org`s have to ask permission to talk to someone in another org or not

 

[DaaaaB's]

I didn't know who he was until a half hour ago but I really want Donskov to be our next head coach. The options in the poll are pretty awful other than maybe Pandolfo, Carvel and Leaman.

 

[BruinDust]

This Donskov guy sounds like the type who would make a great head coach and could eventually transition into the GM role. Background on the coaching side as well as the off-ice decision making side.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

It'd be real interesting to see who they'd surround him with though, he's done everything but be a head coach. Who would he bring with or would Sweeney try and insulate him with guys who've had head coaching experience.

Thinking alike here too.

I imagine a dream scenario in which there’s a blend of coaches who are familiar with the Bruins, some old-school HC acumen and some fresh thinking and ideas with some other staff that Donskov brings in. With the caveat of course, that Donskov is choosing each of these pieces.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

ah ok, I wasn`t sure if opposing org`s have to ask permission to talk to someone in another org or not

I know this is how it works in the NFL, but I’m not confident it’s the same for the NHL. I could just be making an ass of myself in assuming it’s the same.