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

[Dr Hook]

If @Gee Wally is right that the next coach is going to be a short-timer tasked with shepherding the team through it's re-tool, then Rick Bowness makes even more sense. At his age, he won't probably be looking for anything more than a couple of years, and he could do a good job with the young players and getting the culture and team play on the right track. Then step away, and bring in the coach of the future. Just an idea.

 

[sarge88]

If @Gee Wally is right that the next coach is going to be a short-timer tasked with shepherding the team through it's re-tool, then Rick Bowness makes even more sense. At his age, he won't probably be looking for anything more than a couple of years, and he could do a good job with the young players and getting the culture and team play on the right track. Then step away, and bring in the coach of the future. Just an idea.

Or even have the coach of the future on his staff with the plan for him to take over in year 3.

 

[Fenway]

It's not an inspiring list. I'd say 'maybe' to Sullivan and Gallant, but I think the game might be passing both by, and a hard 'no' to most of the rest.

I agree it is not an inspiring list but it reflects what is out there.

The X factor is Charlie could stun us by firing Cam and Don and you have to assume the family has thought about it. As it is they are hurting for corporate sponsors and that is important to ownership.

 

[smithformeragent]

I agree it is not an inspiring list but it reflects what is out there.

The X factor is Charlie could stun us by firing Cam and Don and you have to assume the family has thought about it. As it is they are hurting for corporate sponsors and that is important to ownership.

 

[Hookslide]

Quenneville

I don't care, I want to win

Under normal circumstances, I would be with you, but not only was one of his players abused, but later 15-year-old, because Quenville did not man up and do the right thing, and he was not the only one, Stan Bowman. No one wants to win more than I do, but not that way.

 

[Hookslide]

Do you take a flier on a David Quinn as a two year stop gap?

Local guy. Currently on Sully's staff. He's got some experience as a head coach at the NHL level.

Maybe he comes in and in year two has them sniffing around the playoffs. If not, you cut bait and bring in the guy who will see things through as they return to contention.

Pass

 

[Hookslide]

I agree it is not an inspiring list but it reflects what is out there.

The X factor is Charlie could stun us by firing Cam and Don and you have to assume the family has thought about it. As it is they are hurting for corporate sponsors and that is important to ownership.

Neely is not going anywhere, and if my gut is right, he did not want to sign Swayman, to that contract, and he will throw Sweeney under the bus, and rightfully so, and save his job.

 

[DKH]

If I was putting real money on this I’m going Sacco.

I would keep him and I think Donny does.

Mike Sullivan is a wild card if Pens fire but I doubt it.

David Carle of Denver who Eric likes very interesting if he were available and they moved on from Sacco.

Jay Leach on a short list

But they are in no hurry to get McAvoy & Lindholm back & blew up the team like the baptism scene out of the Godfather

Sacco, Kelly, Leach work for me

 

[ODAAT]

How does Verhoeff, Landon Dupont and Maddox Schultz sound. Eakins and Quinn could make it happen.

seen only Dupont and Verhoeff, I take Verhoeff 8 days a week over Dupont who is a terrific talent, you can`t teach size and Keaton has it and uses it, not in a bashing way but positionally and is ridiculous offensively

 

[Absurdity]

I get what you were saying and agree.

Ironically though, that decision was one of his better strategic moves all season. Not very admirable, but a higher pick is a higher pick.

Like my golf game. Most times it's not very difficult to pick out my best shot of the day. Out of 100 or so golf swings, every once in a while I mistakenly hit a beauty that stands out.

For the goal of this season, it was a great decision, but I don't see how a player on this team would want to play for a coach who doesn't try to keep them in the game.

 

[TP70BruinsCup]

I said Sullivan but Pens won’t fire him……yet. Maybe after next year.

Can we get someone that’s just at least won a Calder Cup or Memorial Cup as a head coach? It’s virtually impossible to win a Stanley Cup with your second team (check it out only 3 guys have done it……), so that might be a factor too……….but…….we need a whole new set of assistants too. Goalie Bob can stay but move on from the rest. If we did it in moving out 5 players we can do it with the coaching staff too.

I do think all this being said they give Sacco the reigns which I wouldn’t do.

 

[Johnny Upton]

Is Steve Kasper available?

 

[DKH]

Neely is not going anywhere, and if my gut is right, he did not want to sign Swayman, to that contract, and he will throw Sweeney under the bus, and rightfully so, and save his job.

they are joined at the hip

never go by your gut - all you will get is a higher BMI

Subconscious mind has the answers ~ your gut or atleast mine tells me to grab the box of cheez its when grocery shopping

Many seem to have a very short memory

Swayman was spectacular in the playoffs and was highly thought of around here

I watched the Tampa game after the trades Bruins won 4-0 and the Florida win live here

Swayman was great

That his teammates don’t try for him must be on certain days because they did then

I would trade anyone on this team for the right package but unless I got it I’m expecting him to bounce back in a big way next season

He needs to not talk like last summer and stop listening to whoever is in his ear because he’s a different guy last year

 

[smithformeragent]

Life comes out you fast.

Thinking back to my youth, and the carousel that was the Bruins coaching and goaltenders.

Years of stability with Clode & Cassidy, Thomas & Rask.

We are on the verge of chaos. Looking at a 4th coach in 5 seasons and your franchise goalie that you just locked up for what amounts to an eternity looking closer to the next Rick DiPietro than he does Patrick Roy.

 

[Bruins Uncensored]

It's been a couple of years, but I'll go back behind the bench as a two-year throw-away... It would be a steady dose of 1-3-1 forecheck and Neutral zone, 3-3 down low collapsing D zone, overload PP, and a passive box PK.

Salary negotiable.

 

[shelbysdad]

Someone who knows the team well

Coach Dom
Asst Wally

 

[bbfan419]

If we are talking recent NHL coach I would go with Gallant, the way he had VGK playing with pace and made the finals in year one was impressive. I did vote other, my picks being either Dale Hunter or Gardiner MacDougall. Do not want anyone currently in the Bruins organization and like another poster said, no BU, BC or local college guys.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

Contrary to popular belief I don't think Philly is going to fire Torts. If they do I'd go with that. Polarizing for sure, but Philly's problem is goaltending not coaching.................oh wait........................never mind.

I also don't think Sullivan will be fired but that depends on what Crosby wants.

I'd go Gallant myself. He has done more with less in the past and that's what we have now. Seems to have issues with upper management in his career but players generally like him and play for him.

I suspect however, that Sacco will be fired and they will go with Leach on a 2 year deal. Two years I suspect is Sweeney's rebuild timeline for real progress or he might be shown the door. But he won't be until they see if he can turn it around first.

 

[SPLBRUIN]

Contrary to popular belief I don't think Philly is going to fire Torts. If they do I'd go with that. Polarizing for sure, but Philly's problem is goaltending not coaching.................oh wait........................never mind.

Let's please stop with the Jay Leach talk, total buzz kill and pretty well eliminates any excitement for next year.

I also don't think Sullivan will be fired but that depends on what Crosby wants.

I'd go Gallant myself. He has done more with less in the past and that's what we have now. Seems to have issues with upper management in his career but players generally like him and play for him.

I suspect however, that Sacco will be fired and they will go with Leach on a 2 year deal. Two years I suspect is Sweeney's rebuild timeline for real progress or he might be shown the door. But he won't be until they see if he can turn it around first.

 

[McGarnagle]

Under normal circumstances, I would be with you, but not only was one of his players abused, but later 15-year-old, because Quenville did not man up and do the right thing, and he was not the only one, Stan Bowman. No one wants to win more than I do, but not that way.

The Chicago organization screwed up but honestly Quenneville's personal culpability is overblown compared to people who do have current jobs like Bowman and Chevy.

He was the lowest ranking person in the room when there was a meeting about allegations involving a black ace who hadn't even played with the NHL team before the start of the finals. The outcome was them deciding to let things go until after the finals, and at that point the HR department decided to let the guy resign instead of doing an investigation.

I don't see what Coach Q reasonably could've done at that point. Stop everything relating to planning for the finals and put your foot down against the GM and Team President and demand a full investigation of some video coach? McDonough, Bowman, Chevy, Wirtz, those guys had opportunities to do something and didn't. HR did the opposite of what is good practice. But all those people are skating along but Quenneville, who really had no reasonable course of action anyway is still paying the price for it? It's pretty unfair IMO.

 

[GordonHowe]

I don't know what who I want as a head coach, but I do know I want someone with zero connection to the Bruins, BC, or BU. I want a complete outsider to give this organization a fresh perspective.

Good luck with that.

I can almost guarantee it will be Leach.

 

[Over the volcano]

What about sparking a new generation and go with Misha Donskov?

Sweeney brought him aboard the team Canada coaching staff. Guys got a history of success, has done just about everything other than be a head coach and has a great reputation as a problem solver.

How an Anonymous Stars Assistant Coach Became Team Canada's Secret Weapon

You've probably never heard of Misha Donskov. So how did the 47-year-old become the only non-NHL head coach on Canada's staff for the 4 Nations Face-Off? By knowing how to send the right message.

www.dmagazine.com

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I think it will end, or need to be, a two year or three year sacrificial lamb coach. Because they’re gonna be in trouble for a few years.

I think this is much more likely than not to be the reality, and Sweeney and Neely are smart enough to know it's at least a possibility, but I believe at this point they are still banking on achieving a quick turnaround. How realistic that is we will see.

But with that uncertainty, which way do you go with the coach? - a steady hand who can at least settle things down and bring back respectability (a Sullivan type), someone you hope might produce a quick burst of performance (Gallant), a guy who's more in for a long haul project, or simply someone you of course hope does well but is essentially disposable, i.e. don't burn a great option now when the team isn't ready to make good on it.

 

[GordonHowe]

I could not agree more. He’s an outsider with no Bruins ties. Also, he likes his teams to play tough. Mike Sullivan, on the other hand, likes his big players to be soft and skate away from scrums. In other words, he likes his players to play the way he always did.
I also don’t want him coaching his son-in-law. The last thing we need is a country club atmosphere. If it’s not Torts, it’s a big mistake.

Tortorella is hilarious and one of the few characters left in the game.

But he's not the answer.

Torts would be a massive blunder by this front office. His tough guy act doesn't work. Players won't buy in because his methods haven't resulted in any sort of success. In the salary cap era his teams either lose in the 1st round or miss the playoffs altogether. This will be his 4th consecutive season watching playoff games from his local golf course.

Well, he *did* win a Cup... Twenty one years ago.

And, more important, he's from Massachusetts.

So, there's that.

 

[BruinDust]

Good luck with that.

I can almost guarantee it will be Leach.

And, more important, he's from Massachusetts.

So, there's that.

I expect some combination of Sullivan, Quinn and Leach. A dark horse in Jay Pandolfo as HC. I also expect Sacco to be offered a job within the organization even if he's let go as head coach.