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Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
It is a crucial time for the Bruins. Is Marco Sturm the leader they need behind the bench? We'll see.
Advertisement Generally, it's a league tough on such newbies. Then again, we give you Kris Knoblauch, who has his Oilers in a second straight Stanley Cup Final since being hired roughly a month into last season. Like Sturm, he ascended to the job right out of the AHL. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Wild assumption here: If Sturm has his Black and Gold charges in the Cup Final for a second straight time in June 2027, I'll bet Bruins fans will be kind of OK with it. Though they are tough to please. I'll also bet Sturm would have a better shot at such success if the Oilers this summer deal Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid to Causeway Street. In the category of weird and meaningless coincidences: Sturm and Knoblauch were born 16 days apart in September 1978. Advertisement We do know Sweeney, much to his credit, has a sparkling track record for identifying the right guy at the right time for his team. He proved that with his hires of Bruce Cassidy and Jim Montgomery. He did so again with his interim appointment of Joe Sacco this past season. All three had NHL head coaching experience on their CVs. So hammer Sweeney all you want about his club's lack of playoff success, post-June 2019, including this year's DNQ, the first since 2016. Hammer away also on his club's record in the draft and in his costly misfires in the free agent market. But he has been at the top of his managerial game at the trade deadline — particularly this March as a seller — and in selecting who calls the shots behind his bench. Sweeney, in the club's press release, detailed that he wanted a coach who could maintain defensive structure (long a club trademark) and wring out more offense, someone who is a strong, respected communicator and able to connect with young talent. Related : He's convinced that coach is Sturm, and based on Sweeney's banked equity in making these picks, that's good enough for now. We can at least give the new coach the season opener, right? Hello? It remains a mystery why Sweeney had all of that in Cassidy, all of that in spades, then abruptly sent him packing following the 2021-22 season. It's commonly held that a number of the younger players found Cassidy's truth-telling a little too close to their fragile bones, a complaint that was nearly nonexistent here in the Montgomery era. Not a peep of that came up either the following June, when Cassidy led Vegas to its Cup title. Advertisement In the end, Established and effective pros tend to carry their games through no matter what the noise or flavor of the month behind the bench. That is often not true of those kids, and it is increasingly a kids' game. Sturm began coaching in 2018, five years after playing his last game as a pro (in Cologne, Germany), as an assistant with the Kings. He held that job for four seasons, one with John Stevens as bench boss, three with Todd McLellan, then segued to head coach in Ontario (Calif.), the Kings' AHL affiliate. The Reign enjoyed solid regular-season success, yet won only one of four playoff rounds, across his three seasons. Keep in mind, it's far more about development than W's in the AHL. Sturm's success there ultimately will be determined by how many of the prospects eventually become NHL regulars. During his own 938-game playing career, Sturm never made it beyond Round 2 in the Cup playoffs. Known in his Boston playing days as 'The German,' he was a fast, smart, and responsible center/wing who reached a career high of 55 points in 2007-08. His brand was emotion and intelligence, qualities that caught the Sharks' eye when they made him the 21st pick in the 1996 draft. He was considered the key acquisition in the notorious November 2005 swap in which the Bruins sent Jumbo Joe Thornton to San Jose. Advertisement Now Sturm is back in the Hub of Hockey, a known face whose coaching style and acumen won't be unveiled until the Bruins go live again in October. If they play like he played, the 2025-26 Bruins will be up-tempo, smart, and responsible in all three zones. Goaltending, well, that depends a lot on how all that speed, intelligence, and responsibility plays out around the cage manned by Jeremy Swayman and, presumably, Joonas Korpisalo. It is a crucial time for the Black and Gold, a franchise in retool mode and within a brick or two of a rebuild. The coach is just the on-site construction manager. Team president Cam Neely and GM Sweeney are the architects. If they've chosen the right guy in Sturm, the Bruins are back on course. If not, then it all falls down, taking Neely and Sweeney with it. Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at
Boston Globe
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Former Bruin Marco Sturm named the team's head coach
Advertisement Sturm was an emotional player who scored some big goals during his Black and Gold tenure, including a playoff winner against the Canadiens in 2008 and an overtime strike against the Flyers in the first Winter Classic at Fenway Park in 2010. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively,' Don Sweeney said. 'We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion." Following a 938-game NHL career that wrapped in 2012, Sturm embarked on a coaching career, guiding the German national team as head coach and general manager beginning in 2015. Germany won a surprise silver medal at the 2018 Olympics. Advertisement After spending four seasons as a Kings assistant, Sturm has spent the last three seasons as head coach of Los Angeles's top affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He had a 119-80-11 mark with the Reign. Sturm was a finalist last year for San Jose's head coaching vacancy that eventually went to Ryan Warsofsky, who just led the United States to the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship. — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) A defensively responsible winger during his playing career, Sturm's time in the Kings organization, which preaches a philosophy of strict defensive structure and strong goaltending, should make him a strong fit in Boston. The 46-year-old Sturm fits the profile of what general manager Don Sweeney was looking for in a coach. 'Evolve offensively, especially with younger players, and integrate them,' Sweeney said at the team's end-of-season news conference. 'But if you don't defend in the National Hockey League, you don't have sustained success.' The Bruins have a strong defense corps featuring veterans Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov. Additionally, Jeremy Swayman appeared to return to form in backstopping the US to gold last month in Stockholm. Jim McBride can be reached at
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steelers Afternoon Drive: Tight End Interest Real?
Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis. Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss the team's renewed interest in acquiring a tight end whether it be Jonnu Smith or somebody else following Donald Parham's injury. Despite their global popularity, the team isn't the team with the most fans and is very much a small market. What does Alan think about the progress of the offensive line? Does the team have too many 'but if' situations that they need to have go right in order to be good? Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this! Advertisement Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this and more! Check out the show on our YouTube page, or find it on Megaphone or wherever you get your podcasts. Got a question for the guys? Leave a comment on YouTube, here on the website, or find them on Twitter at @ASaunders_PGH and @ZacharySmithPGH Hey fans! We want to see your black and gold rides! Show us your car, truck or van that's painted in Pittsburgh colors, decorated with logos or Terrible Towels, covered in bumper stickers, or uses some other way to show off your dedication to the Black and Gold. Click to check out more from Alan Saunders and the gang on the SN YouTube page. Click for full archives of the Steelers Afternoon Drive with Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Afternoon Drive: Tight End Interest Real? Advertisement Related Headlines
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Thomas Morstead, 39-year-old punter, has been signed by the San Francisco 49ers, a fan says: 'Saleh bring you there?'
(Image via Getty: Thomas Morstead) Is there a connection between Thomas Morstead and Robert Saleh? As asked by a curious fan? Well, there is. Robert Saleh and Thomas Mortead have been in the same NFL team before. The team, being Aaron Rodgers' former team, the New York Jets! Both Saleh and Rodgers have left the Jets. Saleh was demoted from a head coach's role at the Jets to a defensive coordinator's role at the San Francisco 49ers now! No wonder the fan caught an invisible thread there! 'Saleh bring you there?' wrote the fan on an X post enthusiastically shared by the 39-year-old punter, Thomas Morstead! Morstead wrote, 'Grateful is an understatement! #49ers.' Thomas Morstead is welcomed by former staff from the New York Jets - special teams coordinator Brant Boyer and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh at the San Francisco 49ers — thomasmorstead (@thomasmorstead) On May 28, SBNation- Niners Nation wrote on their official website, 'Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer has seen (Thomas)Morstead up close and personal on the Jets the previous two seasons.' Wait, here's a second link? Other than Robert Saleh. There's Brant Boyer. San Francisco 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky 's injury could be one of the reasons for bringing in Thomas Morstead Niners Nation further wrote this move comes a day after the 49ers held their first OTA practice. Perhaps whatever Wishnowsky showed was enough to make Boyer want to sign someone he's familiar with after one session. The reason for bringing in Thomas Morstead could be Mitch Wishnowsky's injury. Wishnowsky's roster reads active/non-football injury list with a back injury. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Because of his injury, Wishnowsky garnered a net punting average of 36.3 yards per unit in the 2024 NFL season. It was one of the lowest net punts in the NFL. Thomas Morstead's fans were not happy with New Orleans Saints and will be missing him in the New York Jets NFL Punter Thomas Morstead has only played for two NFL teams in his career span of 16 years! Those two being- the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets. Many fans expressed their anguish, shock, and surprise at Thomas Morstead going to the 49ers in many ways. Some missed him in the Jets, some were not happy with the Saints not trying to get him back, and some wished him well with the 49ers. Read on: 'Congratulations! You will be missed on the jets', '#Saint always', 'Not the Black and Gold but Congrats to you!!', 'Jets are clowns for cutting their best player. Jets fans will never forget you 💚', 'how many times do i need to beg the saints to bring you home', 'We will miss you king. Enjoy success and warm weather', 'We will miss you on the Jets. Have fun and wish you the best.', 'Good luck with the 49ers, you did a solid job with the Jets.', 'You're telling me I have to watch my punter play in the dome for another team again??? I hate the saints so much', 'So happy for you but still wish you were a Saint!', 'Look I'm happy for you should be a @Saints', and '@Saints you are a disgrace. We needed a punter.' Also Read: Romance in Sports Realm: Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett is dating Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim | NFL News - Times of India Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mark Bruener reveals Steelers gave him day off to watch Pittsburgh draft his son
Mark Bruener reveals Steelers gave him day off to watch Pittsburgh draft his son You can't put a price tag on family — and former Steelers tight end turned scout Mark Bruener was ready to risk it all to be there for his son, Carson Bruener, when he was drafted by Pittsburgh. In a heartwarming story covered by Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mark explained that when it came to watching Carson get drafted, nothing could have stood in his way of being there for his son — even if that meant being fired from his Steelers scouting role. That was never an option, however, as Batko explained that the Steelers gave Mark time off to enjoy Carson's special draft moment with the family: "It did not cost Mark his job. General manager Omar Khan and the Steelers allowed him to be home in the Seattle area on the couch with Carson instead of at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for the final two days of the draft. To Mark, it was a no-brainer to be a father first, Steelers employee second." From the father-son legacy of Art Rooney Sr. and Dan Rooney — who laid the groundwork for one of the NFL's most storied franchises — to bonds like Joey Porter Sr. and Jr. carrying the Steelers tradition of tough defense, the Brueners serve as additional proof that Pittsburgh's Black and Gold runs deeper than team colors.
