The Bruins are inching closer to finding their next coach.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported the latest on Boston’s search on Thursday, noting it’s his understanding that final interviews will happen next week, with a decision coming shortly after.
“Boston has talked to a lot of people,” LeBrun posted to X. “Marco Sturm, Jay Woodcroft, Mitch Love, Luke Richardson, Joe Sacco, Jay Leach among those believed to have interviewed.”
Sacco was named interim coach in November after the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery. He went 25-30-7 and while Boston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, Sacco was put in a tough position that only got tougher after the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and the trade deadline.
The Bruins struggled to find consistency and los Charlie McAvoy to an AC joint injury and infection he suffered in the February tournament. This was in addition to dealing with Hampus Lindholm’s knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
Then Boston traded Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo and Charlie Coyle.
Sacco’s effort with the roster he had in front of him didn’t go unnoticedby president Cam Neely.
In April, Bruins brass confirmed Sacco would be part of the coaching interviews, but noted he was aware that they would do an extensive search.
General manager Don Sweeney confirmed to the Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy that the Bruins were no longer waiting for candidates still coaching in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — which seemingly eliminated Dallas Stars assistant Misha Donskov.
Sweeney also told Conroy that the Bruins expect to have a coach “well before” the NHL Entry Draft in June.