Latest news with #CamNeely
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Bruins name former winger Marco Sturm head coach
The Boston Bruins hired Marco Sturm as coach on Thursday to help the Original Six franchise get back to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2016. The Bruins picked the 46-year-old German to replace interim coach Joe Sacco, who took over from Jim Montgomery in November and led the team to a 25-30-7 record — much of it after a trade deadline roster purge. Sturm, who spent the past three seasons as head coach of the AHL's Ontario Reign and coached Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, is a former Boston player — just like Bruins president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney. 'Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans,' said Sturm, who was a Bruins left wing from 2005-10. 'I've felt that passion as a player, and I can't wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I'm excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.' A three-time Olympian and first-round NHL draft pick who played most of his 14 seasons for the San Jose Sharks and Bruins, Sturm scored 242 goals with 245 assists in 938 career games and is No. 2 on the league's all-time scoring list for players born in Germany. As a coach, he worked as a Los Angeles Kings assistant guiding the Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate, to a 119-80-11-6 record and three playoff appearances. 'His path — playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels — has shaped a well-rounded coach who's earned this opportunity,' Sweeney said. 'As a former Bruin, he understands what this team means to the city and our fans. We're embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.' Sacco, a Bruins assistant and former Colorado Avalanche head coach, replaced Montgomery 20 games into this season, but with the team unable to challenge for a playoff berth Sweeney traded away captain Brad Marchand and other veterans, and the Bruins stumbled to a 33-39-10 record overall, tied for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Only three teams in the league were worse, and CEO Charlie Jacobs said after the season that the results were 'absolutely unacceptable' and apologized to the fans for the performance. 'We owe you a better team, and we aim to deliver a better team,' he said after the season. 'I share your disappointment and, frankly, embarrassment on how poorly things played out over the course of this season.' Sacco was a candidate for the permanent job. Others who reportedly received consideration were Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love, former Chicago Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson and Bruins assistant Jay Leach. Montgomery, 55, was 120-41-23 in two-plus seasons in Boston. The Bruins finished with more than 100 points in each of his first two years — including a record-setting debut, when their 65 wins and 135 points were both the most in NHL history. But the team lost in the first round of the playoffs that season and advanced to only the second round last year. The struggles carried over into an 8-9-3 start this season before Montgomery was fired. He was hired five days later by the St. Louis Blues and was given a five-year contract; the Blues reached the playoffs and lost in the first round in seven games to the Winnipeg Jets. Boston never improved under Sacco. Heading into the trade deadline with a three-game losing streak that left them at 28-28, the Bruins traded Marchand — the only remaining member of their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team — along with forwards Justin Brazeau, Marc McLaughlin, Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle and defenseman Brandon Carlo. And they left Sacco on the bench to ride it out. The depleted roster lost 10 straight games — the team lost only 12 in its record-setting 2022-23 season under Montgomery — and fell from possible playoff contender to the NHL draft lottery. Despite the disappointment, the Bruins signed Sweeney to a two-year contract extension, with Neely saying it would help to have stability in the front office during the coaching search. 'I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what's to come for our team,' the former Bruins forward said of the former Bruins defenseman. 'The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It's about winning championships.'
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Bruins tab former player Marco Sturm as new head coach
June 5 - The Boston Bruins hired Marco Sturm as their new head coach Thursday, filling the final vacant position in the NHL. Sturm, 46, will be a head coach for the first time in the league. The Bruins punched their ticket to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons before limping to an Atlantic Division-worst 33-39-10 record in 2024-25. Boston replaced head coach Jim Montgomery after 20 games on Nov. 19, with interim head coach Joe Sacco finishing the season with a 25-30-7 mark. Sturm said he welcomes the opportunity to preside over a team he represented from 2005-10. "I'm incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins," Sturm said. "I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, (Bruins president) Cam Neely, and (general manager) Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I've felt that passion as a player, and I can't wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I'm excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed." Sweeney credited Sturm's attention to defensive hockey as one of the reasons for his hiring. "Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively," 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." Sturm has coached Ontario of the American Hockey League for the past three seasons, guiding the Reign to the playoffs in all three campaigns. Sturm totaled 487 points (242 goals, 245 assists) in 938 career games with the San Jose Sharks, Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers. He was traded from the Sharks to the Bruins as part of the Joe Thornton deal on Nov. 30, 2005. Sturm is Germany's all-time leader in NHL games played. --Field Level Media
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Bruins sign general manager Don Sweeney to two-year contract extension
Despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the Boston Bruins have signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension. The deal was announced Tuesday, and will keep Sweeney in Boston through the 2027-28 season. Sweeney was heading into the final year of his contract with the club, but Bruins president Cam Neely expressed confidence that Sweeney will be able to turn the organization around after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. "Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins," Neely said in Tuesday's announcement. "He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention. He is continuing to follow that track with a robust and thorough search for our club's next head coach, while also preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft and free agent signing period. I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months – and excited for what's to come for our team. The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It's about winning championships." Boston fired head coach Jim Montgomery early in the regular season, and finished the year with a 33-39-10 record as Joe Sacco held down the bench on an interim basis. It was clear the Bruins were going to fall out of postseason contention ahead of the NHL trade deadline, which is when Sweeney traded away veterans like team captain Brad Marchand, defenseman Brandon Carlo, and winger Charlie Coyle to build up Boston's assets in upcoming NHL drafts. Don Sweeney with the Boston Bruins Sweeney spent 15 of his 16 seasons as an NHL defenseman with the Bruins, and has been Boston's GM since 2015. He was the NHL's General Manager of the Year in 2018-19, when Boston made its last run to the Stanley Cup Final. "I am very appreciative to Charlie, the entire Jacobs family, and to Cam for their continued trust and support," Sweeney said Tuesday. "It's an honor to be part of a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fanbase. I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. Our fans have high expectations for this team, and so do I. The collective goal is to build a team that makes Bruins fans proud and ultimately brings another Stanley Cup back to Boston." While Sweeney did well picking up future assets at last season's trade deadline, he's come under fire for several draft miscues and failed free-agent signings since taking over. He's got an important pick to make in the upcoming NHL Draft, as Boston possesses the No. 7 overall pick on June 27. Sweeney also has to find a new head coach, a process which is ongoing and could run through the rest of the NHL postseason.
National Post
20-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Bruins give GM Don Sweeney a 2-year extension to lead rebuild after first playoff miss since 2016
The Boston Bruins have signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension, trusting him to rebuild the roster after the team missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016. Article content Article content The move comes a month after team president Cam Neely said he needed to think about whether to keep Sweeney around after a decade in which the Bruins have seen unprecedented regular-season success followed largely by playoff flops. Sweeney fired coach Jim Montgomery, who led Boston to NHL records of 65 wins and 135 points in 2022-23, in November, then sold off the roster at the trade deadline when it failed to respond under interim Joe Sacco. Article content Article content 'Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins,' Neely said. 'He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention.' Article content In 10 seasons under Sweeney, the Bruins have a 458-233-91 regular-season record, with eight playoff berths. The team's 1,007 points and .644 point percentage are tied for the best in the NHL in that period. Article content But the Bruins have made it past the second round of the playoffs just once in Sweeney's tenure, reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2019 under Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy was fired three years later and then took the Vegas Golden Knights to the Cup championship in his first season there. Article content Montgomery replaced him in Boston and won 112 games in two years, but just one playoff series. He was fired 20 games into this season, and with the team unable to challenge for a playoff berth Sweeney traded captain Brad Marchand — the last remaining player from the 2011 championship — in a roster purge that signaled the end of the franchise's most successful era since Bobby Orr laced up his skates in the old Boston Garden. Article content Neely said Sweeney has been searching for a new coach while also preparing for the draft. Article content 'I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what's to come for our team,' the former Bruins forward said of the former Bruins defenseman. 'The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It's about winning championships.' Article content A veteran of 16 seasons in the NHL, all but one of them in Boston, Sweeney took over the Original Six franchise's front office in 2015 and was given the league's General Manager of the Year Award in 2019 after the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final. He has also served as GM for Team Canada in its 4 Nations Face-Off victory this winter, and will serve as the country's assistant GM for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Article content 'It's an honor to be part of a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fanbase,' Sweeney said. 'I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. Our fans have high expectations for this team, and so do I. The collective goal is to build a team that makes Bruins fans proud and ultimately brings another Stanley Cup back to Boston.'
Washington Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Bruins give GM Don Sweeney a 2-year extension to lead rebuild after first playoff miss since 2016
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins have signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension, trusting him to rebuild the roster after the team missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016. The move comes a month after team president Cam Neely said he needed to think about whether to keep Sweeney around after a decade in which the Bruins have seen unprecedented regular-season success followed largely by playoff flops. Sweeney fired coach Jim Montgomery, who led Boston to NHL records of 65 wins and 135 points in 2022-23, in November, then sold off the roster at the trade deadline when it failed to respond under interim Joe Sacco.
