Bruins GM didn't look for validation from players during coach search
BOSTON — Don Sweeney had a big decision to make this offseason when it came to the Bruins' new coach.
After talking to about 14 candidates, the general manager landed on Marco Sturm. The German-born forward will be Boston's third coach in as many seasons.
Advertisement
The Bruins missed the playoffs in 2024-25 for the first time in nearly a decade. The team struggled to find consistency — especially offensively — and Sweeney his decision on who to name the next coach would be a crucial one.
During Sturm's introductory press conference on Tuesday, Sweeney was asked whether he sought the input from players. And while he said he discussed with them characteristics during exit interviews, the conversations didn't go further than that.
'During the process, I did not run a particular name or style by our players,' he said. 'I think our players innately want to be coached. They want to have an understanding of how they're going to be coached, and they value the same things we organizationally value: Communication, respect and culture.
'I wasn't looking for validation from our players in any way, shape or form from deciding who the coach was going to be,' Sweeney later added. 'I want them to understand that Marco's in charge, and we think we've picked a really good coach, and they're going to go to work.'
Advertisement
Sturm is familiar with the Bruins, though most of his former teammates have retired. The 46-year-old was traded to Boston in 2005 as part of the deal that sent Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks. The forward scored 106 goals during his tenure, but perhaps none more memorable than his overtime game-winner in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Even though this is Sturm's first NHL head coaching job, Sweeney is confident he can help turn the team around and get them back into the playoffs.
'Marco went through some of the things that he felt that we had done well but things that we had gotten away from and where the league is at and where the league is heading to,' Sweeney said. 'It's all important parts of it, and the player development part of it was certainly a big part of those conversations and how you do integrate the players and when they're going to be ready and having connectivity with your minor-league program.'
More Bruins content
Read the original article on MassLive.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet has no regrets over 'best pitch' vs. Aaron Judge
The Boston Red Sox have had a chance in games whenever Garrett Crochet has been on the mound this season. Except for one pitch in Friday's 2-1, extra-inning win over the New York Yankees, he again proved to be the antidote to slugger Aaron Judge. Crochet held New York scoreless over a career-high 8 1/3 innings, striking out the Yankees slugger three times while holding the rest of New York's lineup to four hits with seven total Ks. But with Boston clinging to a 1-0 lead and Crochet back on the hill to try to finish the game in the ninth, his fourth time facing Judge proved costly. Crochet took him to a full count, but let his 99 mph fastball dip down in the strike zone — Judge's sweet spot. He jumped on it, blasting it 443 feet over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park to tie the game. "I'm going to live and die with my best pitch," Crochet said afterward. "Whether it be pitch selection or execution, tough way to end it. But overall, I felt really good tonight." It helped that Crochet's partner throughout the night — catcher and former Yankee Carlos Narvaez — helped put a happy face on the night, when he ended the game with a walk-off single in the 10th. Crochet didn't get the victory, but Narváez said it didn't diminish his masterful night on the mound. For the season, Judge is just 1 for 7 with six strikeouts against Crochet. "Crochet was awesome," Narváez said. "He made a mistake a little bit. But that was a 100 mph fastball. That was impressive. ... Probably the best pitcher now against the best hitter in baseball." Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he has no regrets about leaving Crochet in the game. "That wasn't fun. But our guy was throwing great," Cora said. "He was efficient toward the end. We gave him a shot. It didn't work out. That's why (Judge) is who he is. One of the best in world, and he got one pitch down and he hit it out of the ballpark. You tip your hat." Though he acknowledged he'd probably lose sleep over Judge's last at-bat, Crochet was proud of his overall outing. "It was a special feeling jogging back out there," Crochet said. "Standing [ovation]. I could tell the fans wanted me out there. I already wanted to be out there pretty bad. But it made it mean a little bit more. It made me grab a little bit more in that inning. I wish I could have finished it out. ... If my night had to end there from a home run I'm at least glad that it was on a fastball." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
This Date in Baseball - Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, winner of 8 N.L. batting titles, passes away
June 16 1916 — Tom Hughes of the Boston Braves pitched a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh Pirates. 1938 — Jimmie Foxx didn't get a chance to hit as the St. Louis Browns walked him six straight times. The Boston Red Sox won anyway, 12-8. 1953 — The St. Louis Browns beat New York 3-1 to break the Yankees' 18-game winning streak and end their 14-game losing streak. 1957 — Relief pitcher Dixie Howell hit two home runs in the 3 2-3 innings he pitched to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-6 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators. 1971 — The Oakland Athletics hit five solo home runs in a 5-1 win over the Washington Senators. Mike Epstein and Joe Rudi had a pair homers and Dave Duncan one. Epstein's home runs came in his first two at-bats to give him homers in four straight at-bats over two games. 1978 — After three ninth-inning near misses, Tom Seaver threw the first no-hitter of his 12-year career as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0. 1991 — Otis Nixon of Atlanta stole six bases against Montreal to set a modern National League record and tie the major league record set by Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia A's in 1912. Montreal won the game 7-6. 1992 — Boston's Mark Reardon became baseball's all-time save leader when he closed out a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees. Reardon logged his 342nd save to pass Rollie Fingers. 1993 — Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners hits his 100th career home run in Seattle's 6 - 1 victory over Kansas City to become the fourth-youngest to hit the century mark. Only Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews and Tony Conigliaro did it faster than the 23-year-old Griffey. 2001 — John Olerud went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle as Seattle beat the San Diego Padres 9-2. He hit a homer in the ninth to complete the cycle. 2009 — The San Diego Padres set a major league record with their 12th straight loss in interleague play when they fell 5-0 to Seattle. 2014 — Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, winner of eight National League batting titles, passes away from cancer of the salivary gland at 54. 2015 — Brock Holt became the first Boston player to hit for the cycle since 1996 and the Red Sox slugged their way out to a 9-4 victory over Atlanta. 2015 — Manny Machado and Chris Parmelee each hit two of an Orioles-record eight home runs, and Baltimore pounded woeful Philadelphia 19-3. The eight home runs were the most by the Orioles since their move from St. Louis in 1954. 2019 — An authentic Babe Ruth New York Yankees jersey from 1928-30 sets a record for a piece of baseball memorabilia as it sells for $5.64 million at auction. 2019 — The Padres and Rockies set a record for most combined runs in a four-game series with a total of 92, breaking the previous record of 88 set in 1929 between the Brooklyn Robins and Phillies. _____
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Paul Pierce on guarding Kobe Bryant: 'I saw Jordan's reflection'
Paul Pierce on guarding Kobe Bryant: 'I saw Jordan's reflection' Late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was a persistent dream come true for countless fans of the franchise. He helped lead the Lakers to five NBA championships and had numerous moments of transcendent individual personal greatness that no one will ever forget. But for players and fans of other teams, he was a frightening nightmare. While no athlete has ever been truly unstoppable, Bryant reduced many defenders to rubble throughout his 20-year career. When he faced the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in 2008 and 2010, Paul Pierce spent time trying to guard him. Pierce admitted on Fox Sports 1's "Speak" how difficult it was for him to go up against the "Black Mamba." "If I had to sum it up in one word -- just one word -- facing Kobe was stressful," Pierce said. "... It was hard to get sleep because now you going against the Mamba -- the second coming of [Michael] Jordan. I idolized, but when I saw and looked at Mamba's eyes, I saw Jordan's reflection. "... This guy, he just showed us he could go for 60 in a half." Pierce's Celtics got the best of Bryant and the Lakers by winning the 2008 title in six games. But after defeating the Orlando Magic in the 2009 finals, the Lakers went up against the Celtics again in the 2010 championship series, and this time, they prevailed in seven games. Even when Bryant shot poorly versus Boston — and he certainly had some bad shooting games in the finals versus Boston — he kept coming and remained aggressive. Simply the fact that he continued to attack offensively put pressure on whoever was trying to guard him.
