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

[Dr Hook]

Whoever it is needs to be able to build his own coaching staff from the ground up. Clean the whole staff out and start fresh.

That should be the standard- I believe Montgomery was offered that opportunity, for example, and elected to keep the current staff. I can't recall where I heard that, though. Dom maybe?

 

[Patdud]

That should be the standard- I believe Montgomery was offered that opportunity, for example, and elected to keep the current staff. I can't recall where I heard that, though. Dom maybe?

all the signs from the very beginning pointing to Monty always seeing the Bruins as short term until Berube was gone in STL. f*** that guy.

 

[Bruin4]

Torts grew up as a fan of the Bruins, and he would not be afraid to go on Felger & Mazz.

One thing I am certain of - The Jacobs Family will accept this year as a failure but will demand a team to be in contention for a playoff spot in 2026. NOTICE that I said the Jacobs Family, as Charlie has to answer to his 2 older brothers who run Delaware North.

No way on this Gods green earth do I see Sweeney hiring Torts or a Sullivan for that matter. Just a view from way outside looking in. I dont see him hiring an experience successful NHL coach. If his past hires in Cassidy, Montgomery and Sacco is any indication on who he targets. I see him going more with a guy who will be relatively new on the seen as an NHL coach, similar to his prior hires.

He came in with Claude eventually fired him 2 years in, and then he went with Cassidy,to Montgomery and onto Sacco as interim in a span of 4 years. All of them with short shelf lives under Sweeney.

He's a GM who needs to get this right as his shelf life imo has past the expiration date. No matter who he hires, a big name like a Torts, Sully, Boudreau or a Gallant or he goes with a considerably less experience NHL head coaches in a Carle, Mougenel, Leach, Woodcroft, or a halpren he needs to nail it.

Sacco will be kept around imo, he's been the ultimate fall guy under Sweeney and he will more than likely never see another NHL coaching job as the bench boss and maybe even as an assistant for quite some time if he's let go, but he's been a good soilder for Donny so im guessing he keeps him around in some capicity, thats if Sacco excepts.

Either way 2026 could be a long season, and at some point and time the coaching carousel needs to stop, and just maybe the finger needs to be pointed elsewhere. Perhaps at the guy who is on the verge of hiring his 4th coach in 4 years, and has continuously used them as his Scape Goats.

 

[Dr Hook]

all the signs from the very beginning pointing to Monty always seeing the Bruins as short term until Berube was gone in STL. f*** that guy.

Could be, but I am just speaking to the assistant/staff issue. I am pretty sure that the same courtesy was extended to Cassidy as well.

 

[ON3M4N]

I'd hire Todd Nelson. Back-2-back Calder Cups, A 3rd Calder Cup with Grand Rapids. Has won 50% of the past 6 Calder Cups. Has his team in 2nd place overall this season.

He also had 2 UHL Championships in ('04 & '05). He's also been behind the bench in the NHL as a head coach and assistant coach.

2008 to 2010: Assistant Coach w/ the Atlanta Thrashers
2014 to 2015: Interim HC for Edmonton (the year they tanked for McDavid)
2018 to 2022: Assistant Coach w/ the Dallas Stars

This was an interesting article (granted 10yrs ago) about how he see's coaching

What kind of coach is the Edmonton Oilers’ Todd Nelson?

Last spring, we ran a multi-part interview series with then-Oklahoma City Barons’ coach Todd Nelson, who was kind enough to sit down with me for a few hours and go …

edmontonjournal.com

 

[ON3M4N]

There is zero chance Don Sweeney & Bam Bam would hire Tortorella, given his antics and resultant shelf life.

Bruce Boudreau has been around the track nearly as many times, with nothing to show for it. Also, he is a ridiculous character.

IMHO, other than perhaps coaching their kids, neither Chara nor Bergeron possess the DNA or interest to set up shop behind a bench. Especially an NHL bench.

Hired to be fired at that level? Nah. They have executive material written all over them.

General Manager (Z, already with one foot in the door) & President of Hockey Operations (Patrice).

Again, it will probably be Leach, long groomed and, naturally, one of their own.

I still hate SweeNeely.

Where's that ejector thing Mike from Everett is always on about?

Leach was my guy after they let Cassidy go. When the brought him back this off-season I was excited because he did good work with the SEA defense. This season our defense has been atrocious and struggling to generate anything offensively. Lohrei and McAvoy being the exception, though McAvoy's production is down from previous years.

 

[nORRis8]

I like Torts but as time goes on he acts quirky and he does some senseless things.
When he gets shown the door by that time it ain't pretty.

 

[Grasshopperking]

There is. David Carle. Throw everything at him.

 

[BamBamCam]

Best thing that could happen to the Bruins is for the NYR to hire Sullivan.

 

[Bruin4]

Sweeney and Torts, yea Not Happening. lol

 

[GatorMike]

Edit: Nevermind.

The fake account got me.

My bad.

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Let’s try to stay away from extremely obvious fake accounts no?

 

[mar2kbos]

Torts would be a bad idea for a coach. I would give it couple months before Pasta asks for a trade if they start having a bad year. I get people love that he is candid. I just don’t think it would work out well. I mean I’ll still hope he does well if he is hired, but just cautious about his cons.

 

[Igor25]

I can't say. But if a mod wants to confirm the source, I'll be happy to give it to them.

Right!

 

[GahdenRinkRat]

Torts would be a bad idea for a coach. I would give it couple months before Pasta asks for a trade if they start having a bad year. I get people love that he is candid. I just don’t think it would work out well. I mean I’ll still hope he does well if he is hired, but just cautious about his cons.

He’s not “candid” the demeanor is an act that grows stale quickly.

 

[Aeroforce]

A couple of weeks ago Pastrnak was interfered with on a breakaway. It could've been a penalty shot, but wasn't.

I loved Andrew Raycroft's point that the NHL is in the entertainment business, so give him the penalty shot.

The Bruins aren't winning the Cup next year, but if they bring in Torts, it will be entertaining. A lot of that is his short-tempered pressers, and a lot is the fact when a larger-than-life, divisive personality is involved, people on both sides can't help but click.

I think Torts would be good for the retool, and he'd definitely keep things interesting at this board while the team grinds through some growing pains.

Let's start the show - hire him today!

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

I don't think we see Torts as Sweeney probably doesn't get to fire too many more coaches. They definitely are gonna want to do their homework on this one to try to make it a home run. I like Torts but I dont see them taking the risk.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

You think the criticisms of Tortorella are unfair? That people can’t have an opinion of another coach because our coach sucks?

Im not sure its criticism that he has an issue with. Well thought out criticism is rarely replied to with annoyance or disdain. Thinly thought out commentary is:
He sucks.
He is the worst.
He is terrible.

ok, say why. Anyone can say that, take some time and build your case.

That what I got from his post at least.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Im not sure its criticism that he has an issue with. Well thought out criticism is rarely replied to with annoyance or disdain. Thinly thought out commentary is:
He sucks.
He is the worst.
He is terrible.

ok, say why. Anyone can say that, take some time and build your case.

That what I got from his post at least.

That’s why I asked him if he thought the criticisms were unfair. Was also curious as what Joe Sacco had to do with anything

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

No way on this Gods green earth do I see Sweeney hiring Torts or a Sullivan for that matter. Just a view from way outside looking in. I dont see him hiring an experience successful NHL coach. If his past hires in Cassidy, Montgomery and Sacco is any indication on who he targets. I see him going more with a guy who will be relatively new on the seen as an NHL coach, similar to his prior hires.
He came in with Claude eventually fired him 2 years in, and then he went with Cassidy,to Montgomery and onto Sacco as interim in a span of 4 years. All of them with short shelf lives under Sweeney.

He's a GM who needs to get this right as his shelf life imo has past the expiration date. No matter who he hires, a big name like a Torts, Sully, Boudreau or a Gallant or he goes with a considerably less experience NHL head coaches in a Carle, Mougenel, Leach, Woodcroft, or a halpren he needs to nail it.

Sacco will be kept around imo, he's been the ultimate fall guy under Sweeney and he will more than likely never see another NHL coaching job as the bench boss and maybe even as an assistant for quite some time if he's let go, but he's been a good soilder for Donny so im guessing he keeps him around in some capicity, thats if Sacco excepts.

Either way 2026 could be a long season, and at some point and time the coaching carousel needs to stop, and just maybe the finger needs to be pointed elsewhere. Perhaps at the guy who is on the verge of hiring his 4th coach in 4 years, and has continuously used them as his Scape Goats.

Cassidy was here for 6 seasons.

That's not a short shelf life for an NHL coach.

 

[Gordoff]

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I love the entertainment factor BUT if they hire him now, today, before the end of the season they're grasping at straws. If they hire him an he takes over it'll show that there's no true path, or plan. Just shooting from the hip. Finish this shit (season) off and start to get the heavy lifting done the next day.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

A lot of this depends on the plan, if there is a plan, and right now I have no idea what the plan is. If we roll out next season with Casey Mittelstadt as 1C it'll be pretty obvious we are tanking for McKenna. If on the other hand they add players, make moves (and I still think Marchand could be back next year) and do things right it's possible for this team to bounce right back into things. What type of coach they pick might give us insight into what their plan actually is.

 

[jgatie]

Right!

I don't really care what you think. The Mods know my source and they let it stay. That's all I care about.

 

[ON3M4N]

View attachment 1001253

Torts as the HC for the Bruins will be as much of a dumpster fire as when the Sox hired Bobby Valentine