BOSTON – Marco Sturm first experienced the intense passion of Bruins fans after being traded to Boston in exchange for Joe Thornton, who was the top overall draft pick and would soon become NHL MVP.
“It wasn`t my fault, was it?” the ex-Bruins forward jokingly remarked to reporters at his introductory press conference as the team`s new head coach on Tuesday. “When I arrived, it was tough, honestly. Whether you read the newspaper, check social media, or just walk down the street, people made their feelings known.”
Sturm added, “But it also serves as motivation. I viewed it positively. I have such fond memories from my time here. I`m confident that the fans will rally behind the team as soon as they see positive developments. I understand it can work the other way as well, but I prefer to focus on the future.”
Sturm, a three-time Olympian and former first-round draft pick, played five of his 14 NHL seasons with the Bruins. Following his playing career, he coached Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and then spent six years with the Los Angeles Kings organization, serving as head coach for their AHL team for the final three years.
Duncan Priestley