BOSTON — The Boston Bruins have appointed Marco Sturm as their new head coach, effective Thursday, with the aim of guiding the Original Six franchise back to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2016.
The Bruins selected the 46-year-old German native to replace interim coach Joe Sacco. Sacco had taken over from Jim Montgomery in November and guided the team to a 25-30-7 record, much of which came after a significant roster overhaul at the trade deadline. Sturm`s background includes three seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign and leading Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. He also has a history with the Bruins organization, having played for Boston as a left wing from 2005 to 2010, following in the footsteps of current Bruins president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney, who are also former players.
Expressing his connection to the city and the team, Sturm stated, “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 be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.”
As a player, Sturm was a three-time Olympian and a first-round NHL draft pick. He spent the majority of his 14-season career with the San Jose Sharks and Bruins, accumulating 242 goals and 245 assists over 938 games, ranking him second all-time among German-born NHL scorers. His coaching experience includes time as an assistant for the Los Angeles Kings before leading their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, to a 119-80-11-6 record and three playoff appearances.
General Manager Don Sweeney praised Sturm`s journey and qualifications, saying, “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.” Sweeney added that as a former Bruin, Sturm “understands what this team means to the city and our fans,” and expressed confidence that his “energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.”
Sacco, a former Colorado Avalanche head coach and Bruins assistant, initially replaced Montgomery 20 games into this season. However, with the team unable to challenge for a playoff spot, Sweeney executed a trade deadline sell-off, moving key veterans like captain Brad Marchand, along with other forwards and defensemen. This resulted in a final record of 33-39-10, tying for the worst in the Eastern Conference.
Only three teams in the entire league finished with a worse record. Following the season, CEO Charlie Jacobs described the performance as “absolutely unacceptable,” apologizing to the fans and stating, “We owe you a better team, and we aim to deliver a better team.” He shared the fans` “disappointment and, frankly, embarrassment on how poorly things played out over the course of this season.”
Sacco was reportedly a candidate for the permanent job. Other individuals reportedly considered included Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love, former Chicago Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson, and Bruins assistant Jay Leach.
Sturm`s predecessor, Jim Montgomery, had a successful two-plus season run with the Bruins, posting a 120-41-23 record. His first two years saw the team exceed 100 points, including a historic 2022-23 season where their 65 wins and 135 points set new NHL records.
Despite the regular-season success, the Bruins suffered early playoff exits under Montgomery, losing in the first round one year and the second round the next. He was fired after an 8-9-3 start this season and quickly signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues reached the playoffs but lost in the first round in seven games to the Winnipeg Jets.
The team`s performance did not improve under interim coach Sacco.
Facing a three-game losing streak that dropped their record to 28-28 heading into the trade deadline, the Bruins opted to trade several key players, including Brad Marchand (the last remaining member of their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team), along with forwards Justin Brazeau, Marc McLaughlin, Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and defenseman Brandon Carlo.
Sacco remained as coach through this period of transition.
With a depleted roster, the team endured a 10-game losing streak, a stark contrast to the 12 total losses in the record-setting 2022-23 season under Montgomery. This skid eliminated any playoff hopes and positioned them for the NHL draft lottery.
Despite the disappointing season, General Manager Don Sweeney received a two-year contract extension, a move the organization stated was aimed at providing stability in the front office during the coaching search.
Bruins President Cam Neely expressed confidence in Sweeney`s direction, adding, “I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what’s to come for our team. The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.”
Duncan Priestley