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  • Boston Bruins Strike Out on Top Coaching Target: What Went Wrong?

    Boston Bruins Strike Out on Top Coaching Target: What Went Wrong?

    The Boston Bruins search for a new head coach hit a snag when Rick Tocchet, one of their top targets, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. Now the Bruins are back to the drawing board and wondering what went wrong.

    Rick Tocchet Chooses Flyers Over Bruins

    Rick Tocchet was the top candidate to lead the Bruins into the next chapter. After leaving the Vancouver Canucks, Tocchet was the hottest coaching commodity this offseason. His resume is 286-265-87 over nine seasons as an NHL head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes and Canucks. He won the Jack Adams Award last season after leading Vancouver to a Pacific Division title and is one of the top coaches in the league.

    The Bruins were one of the final three teams in the running for Tocchet, along with the Flyers and Seattle Kraken. But Tocchet chose Philly and the Bruins got zip.

    “Tocchet would have been a good coach for the Bruins,” said one source. “His experience, leadership and Stanley Cup pedigree would have been perfect for a team looking to stay competitive while transitioning into a new era.”

    Oh well, back to the drawing board for the Bruins.

    Why Did Tocchet Choose Philadelphia Over Boston?

    While we don’t know for sure why Tocchet chose Philly, here are a few reasons that likely played a role:

    1. Tocchet’s History with Philadelphia

    Tocchet played most of his career with the Flyers, 621 games over 11 seasons. That’s a deep connection to the franchise.

    2. Flyers’ Aggressive Pursuit

    The Flyers were reportedly very aggressive in their pursuit of Tocchet and made it clear he was their guy. A big contract—over $6 million per year—may have been the deciding factor.

    3. Bruins’ Uncertainty

    While the Bruins are a good team, there’s still a lot of uncertainty with the organization. With key players aging and salary cap issues looming, Tocchet may have wanted a clearer path to success in Philly.

    What’s Next for the Bruins?

    Now that Tocchet is off the board, the Bruins will have to look elsewhere. One name that keeps popping up is former Bruins forward Marco Sturm, who has been linked to the team recently.

    Sturm, an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings, has ties to the organization and is a good player developer. According to sources, he has a “real shot” at the job.

    Other possibilities:

    • Jay Woodcroft: Former Edmonton Oilers head coach who took them to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.
    • Misha Donskov: Assistant coach with the Dallas Stars, works well with young players.
    • Mitch Love: Assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, defensive specialist.

    Lessons Learned from Missing Tocchet

    Missing out on Tocchet shows how tough it is to navigate the NHL coaching market. In a competitive world, teams have to act fast and sell their vision to get top candidates.

    For the Bruins, this is a wake up call. While they’re a storied franchise, they couldn’t get Tocchet, so they need to get clear on their organizational direction. Going forward, they’ll have to sell their vision to their next head coach if they don’t want to go through this again.

    A New Chapter for the Bruins

    Missing out on Tocchet hurts, but it’s not the end of the world for the Bruins. Their next hire will be huge, whether they go with a veteran like Sturm or a younger voice like Donskov or Love.

    For now, we’ll just have to wait and see who gets behind the bench. But one thing is for sure: the pressure is on to get this right.

  • Jay Woodcroft Emerges as Top Contender for Bruins Head Coach Role

    Jay Woodcroft Emerges as Top Contender for Bruins Head Coach Role

    The NHL coaching carousel is in full spin, and several teams have already filled their vacancies. The Rangers got Mike Sullivan, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville, the Canucks promoted Adam Foote and the Flyers got Rick Tocchet. But one team still in the process is the Boston Bruins, and they seem to have a front runner for the job.

    According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft is the “leading candidate” for the Bruins’ head coaching position. On the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast, Seravalli said Woodcroft’s interactions with the Bruins have been good so far.

    “I think it’s gone well for him there,” Seravalli said. “So I’d say keep an eye on that too.”

    Jay Woodcroft’s NHL Resume

    At 48 years old, Jay Woodcroft has a lot of experience as a head coach and assistant in the NHL. His most recent stint was with the Edmonton Oilers, where he was head coach for three seasons from 2022 to 2024.

    Woodcroft was the interim head coach in 2022 and got the Oilers to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. The next season (2022-23), he had the Oilers at 50-23-9 (109 points), and they went to the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights, another eventual Cup winner.

    But the 2023-24 season got off to a rough start for Edmonton, and they were 3-9-1. That’s when Woodcroft was let go in November, but his body of work during his tenure is solid.

    Before his time in Edmonton’s top job, Woodcroft was head coach of the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, for four seasons (105-71-21) and seven years as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks (2008-15) and three more with the Oilers (2015-18).

    What Woodcroft Has Been Doing Since His Departure?

    Since leaving the Oilers, Woodcroft hasn’t been idle. In an interview with Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, he told me how he’s used this time to improve.

    “I’ve had a 20 year career with three different organizations and I’ve never had this time before,” Woodcroft said. “So, I’ve really tried to invest in being the best I can be. Study ways to get better. Look at communication. Look at how to improve team culture.”

    Woodcroft said his focus has been on getting player buy-in and engagement, skills he thinks will serve him well for his next opportunity. While this wasn’t what he had planned, he views it as an opportunity to get better and come back stronger than ever.

    Where the Bruins Stand in Their Search?

    The coaching search is still in its infancy. GM Don Sweeney said they’ve started Zooms and will move to in-person meetings soon. But Sweeney also said some candidates are still in the postseason, so decisions won’t be made right away.

    That opens the door for assistants like Misha Donskov of the Dallas Stars or Mitch Love of the Washington Capitals to get in the mix. But Woodcroft’s name is still gaining traction as the top guy.

    He’s got NHL head coaching experience, playoff success, and a track record of developing players. He’s the kind of coach the Bruins need after a disappointing season.

    Why Woodcroft is the Perfect Fit for Boston?

    If hired, Woodcroft would bring stability and innovation to the bench. He’s known for his great communication skills and adaptability, and gets the most out of his players. And his experience with high-powered offenses (like the Oilers’ Connor McDavid line) could translate well to Boston’s roster with David Pastrňák and Brad Marchand.

    No decision has been made yet, but Woodcroft being a leading candidate means the Bruins are serious about finding a coach who can get them back to contender status.