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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Marco Sturm and Don Sweeney on what comes next in the Bruins rebuild
BOSTON — Fourteen candidates had interviewed with general manager Don Sweeney for a chance to become the next head coach of the Boston Bruins. Marco Sturm, hired on June 5, bested the other 13 because he made his strengths come through: experience, vision, structure, positivity, player development and communication. Advertisement 'It was a pivotal moment for our franchise and to learn about reshaping our team,' Sweeney said on Tuesday at a news conference introducing Sturm as coach. 'To go through the process of hiring a coach who was committed to reestablishing and renewing our identity. To hiring a coach that was committed to playing with structure. To have an understanding of player development. To value communication and culture within our locker room. To understanding the game has evolved offensively.' For parts of four seasons, Sturm took cross-checks from Zdeno Chara and received passes from Patrice Bergeron. Those moments shaped Sturm into who he has become as a coach. 'It started right at practice,' Sturm recalled Tuesday. 'Little things like that. The way we prepared. The way we competed every day. It doesn't matter whether it's a practice or a game. That, for me, changed the whole thing right away.' It pleases Sturm, then, that David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy also practiced and played with Chara and Bergeron. Sturm's initial chats with his alternate captains revealed their shared experience. 'I can tell right away,' Sturm said. 'They learned from Bergeron. They learned from Chara. Because they already have it in them. That really got me excited too. We've just got to guide them again. We've got to reestablish the whole thing. Because these guys are not here anymore. So now, it's going to be up to us and the new group to lead this group to a new era.' Sturm acknowledged, however, the task at hand. His new employer is short on NHL players. Sturm needs a right-shot defenseman and multiple forwards. Whether Sweeney can supply him with such help remains to be seen. 'I love challenges,' Sturm said. So what's next for Sturm and Sweeney? 1. Hire an assistant coach. Jay Leach, Chris Kelly and Bob Essensa are remaining. Sturm wants an assistant with power-play expertise. This was the job Sturm initially had when he was an assistant for Todd McLellan with the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins need major help. They were at 15.2 percent in 2024-25, No. 29 in the NHL. Advertisement The power play, however, will not all be on a new assistant. Sturm identified hiccups in predictability and connectivity when he reviewed video of the Bruins power play. He will insist, for example, that if he keeps Pastrnak on his strong side and Elias Lindholm in the bumper, the two right-shot forwards improve their reads. 2. Communicate to the players how the 2025-26 Bruins will play. Defensively, Sturm believes in structure. The Ontario Reign, where he coached for the past three seasons, used a hybrid in their end. Once they got the puck, Sturm preferred possession exits, but gave his players the green light to read what was best situationally. 'He stressed playing the right way,' Reign defenseman Joe Hicketts said. 'Sometimes the right way was gaining the zone and getting the puck out. Other times, it was making those small little plays to have zone exits with possession.' Offensively, Sturm likes players with pace. The Bruins were No. 28 last year with 2.71 goals per game. 'We've got to have better entries. Not turn pucks over,' Sturm said. 'That part was a big issue. In the offensive zone, we've got to build that structure in place. We've also got to be more hungry.' 3. Go deeper to learn player personalities. Sturm has an idea of how he'll interact with Pastrnak and McAvoy. They have been around. He is not familiar with prospects such as Matt Poitras and Fraser Minten, who could make varsity breakthroughs in 2025-26. Young players will require more of Sturm's attention. 'You can't treat everyone the same way,' said Sturm, who appreciated the straight-shooting style of Darryl Sutter and Claude Julien. 'So you've got to have a good feel for it — who to poke, who not. That's why I still like the mix in the locker room. The older guys, they still have that Bruins DNA. I love it. But there will be some other guys. I can't just treat those guys like the older guys.' Advertisement 4. Use every mechanism to add players. Sweeney has draft capital, such as the two first-rounders he has in 2026 and 2027. He has approximately $30 million in cap space, although Morgan Geekie and Mason Lohrei, the top two pending restricted free agents, need new deals. The GM has his first three picks in 2026 as the framework of an offer sheet. 'This is about a growth opportunity for the organization as well. Marco is a big part of that moving forward,' Sweeney said. 'So we will reshape.' Sturm will have input. He will then shift his systems to fit the reinforcements Sweeney brings in. 'The overall thing, it's already in place,' Sturm said of his philosophy. 'But now I've got to find out what kind of players I have. I'm going to react. 5. Deepen the prospect pool and improve development. With the counsel of his amateur staff, Sweeney will draft an impactful player at No. 7 on June 27. The two second-rounders will also be critical. The work starts there. Multiple candidates told Sweeney during interviews how they perceived the organization's work on player development. 'Those are eye-opening at times. And it's constructive,' Sweeney said. 'You have to take it to heart and make adjustments. We're not currently playing right now. So you have to accept the failures we have. Coaches were honest in pointing that out. Marco went through some of the things he felt we had done well, the things we'd gotten away from, where the league is at, where the league is headed to. It's all important parts of it. The player development part of it was certainly a big part of those conversations.' (Photo of Marco Sturm: Marcel Kusch / Getty Images)
CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Marco Sturm shares his vision for the Boston Bruins after being introduced as new head coach
Marco Sturm understood how special it was to be a member of the Boston Bruins during his five seasons as a player. But being named the new head coach of the Original Six franchise has brought about a whole new rush of feelings for the 46-year-old. Sturm couldn't contain his smile as he was formally introduced as the 30th head coach in Boston Bruins history on Tuesday. It will be his first head-coaching gig in the NHL, and one he was honored to take when Boston general manager Don Sweeney offered him the job. "When I saw Don Sweeney's name on my text, it was pretty special. It got me really excited. Of course, I wanted to be an NHL coach, but this means more," Sturm said at his introduction. Getting to be head coach of the Bruins means more to Sturm because he still sees the identity and culture he was part of when he had a Spoked-B on his sweater from 2005-10. It was a foundation set by players like Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, and Sturm wants to see it continue in Boston. (Bergeron was in attendance on Tuesday, and Sturm was grateful to have his former teammate and the Bruins legend at his introduction.) However, Sturm admits the Bruins cannot simply remain the same old Bruins and hope to succeed in the present and future. The team's offense needs a revamp, and Boston needs to get a lot better on special teams after ranking at the bottom of the NHL in both power play and penalty kill in 2024. Sturm has enjoyed success as a head coach on the International level with Germany and in the AHL, and is now ready to take his coaching career to the top level. He's not going to do it all on his own, and is looking forward to working with Sweeney, team president Cam Neely, and his coaching staff to get the Bruins back to contention. "They are going to push me hard. We want to lead by example every day," said Sturm. "I'm really looking forward to also pushing the team to the next level. ... It's going to be up to me and my coaching staff, up to my players, up to management, and also up to the fans of the Boston Bruins. Again, I've got such great memories here and I know the fans will -- as soon as they feel something good happening here, they will support you. It kind of goes the other way too, but I don't want to talk about that. I want to look forward. "I know we have a lot of work to do and we won't fix it overnight. But it will start Day 1 of training camp," he added. "Teams win championships, not one coach or one player." Sturm had some head-coaching interviews last year, but remained the head coach of the Ontario Reign, Los Angeles' AHL affiliate. He didn't feel he was ready to take over an NHL team at that point in his career. "There was a reason I took my time and didn't just take the first opportunity. I wanted to be prepared. I always wanted to come back here, but the timing was perfect," he said. "Selfishly, I'm glad the Bruins didn't play well last year because I wouldn't be here." Now he's back in Boston, and Sturm has a clear vision for how he'll lead the Bruins. He says his experience as both a player and coach will help him connect with today's NHL players, whom he is very clear and direct with. He said Claude Julien was one of his favorites coaches to play for because he was honest and direct with players. Sturm also hates to lose, and thinks his players will feed off that emotion. "The messages I'll deliver – could be system wise or anything – will be very clear and no grey area. We're all going to work together and I'm going to push those guys forward," he said. "I hate losing and am very competitive. That is something a lot of people don't know about Marco Sturm. It's not about me; today will be and maybe tomorrow too. But I can't wait to get in the locker room and work with my guys. "I can't wait for Day 1 to see the Bruins fans behind us and pushing us to the next level," he added. Sturm didn't want look too far ahead, and said he likes to take things day by day or game by game. Right now, his focus is on getting to know his players and getting a system and program in place for training camp. But he did share his plan on how he'll fix the Boston offense -- or at least part of that plan. Sturm's plan to fix the Bruins offense While the Bruins will continue to focus on playing good, strong defense, Sturm acknowledged the team has to evolve offensively with the rest of the NHL. Being more productive in the offensive zone and improving on special teams will be major topics he addresses going forward. "There are different ways to approach things. When I talk about we want to score more goals, it's not just in the offensive zone," he said. "Yes, that's where the puck is going to end up, but how are we going to get there? That's a big part too, and there are other areas we can get better. We have to have the puck more and have better entries for example, and not turn the puck over. "We have to put that structure in place, but we also have to be more hungry and have a better mindset," Sturm continued. "It's not just one thing. There are a bunch of things we have to get better at. I want them to have that offensive mindset and mentality when we have the puck. Not just think the game, but play the game fast. It's not going to happen overnight, but that's something I'll address right away." The Bruins offense averaged just 2.71 goals per game in 2024, which was tied for the 28th-worst in the NHL. On special teams, Boston converted on just 15.2 percent of its power plays (ranking 29th) while it killed off penalties at a 76.3 percent clip (24th). So it's very clear what the Bruins brass needs to address this offseason, and Sturm needs to hammer home in camp. Sturm said there will be a lot of team meetings early on to address the changes to the offense. As for those specific changes, he wasn't about to share his complete vision with the rest of the NHL. "I'm going to put a system in place where players will have success," he said. "We're going to make those players better offensively. I'm not going to tell you how we're going to do it today, but hopefully you can see it pretty soon." Challenges of coaching in Boston Sturm is taking over a Bruins team that missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade last season, and one that might be looking at a rebuild for a few seasons. Today's Bruins roster is not the one Sturm will have when training camp opens, so we'll see what Sweeney does this summer to shorten the rebuilding process. Sturm knows there will be pressure to succeed in his first head-coaching job, but that was part of the reason he took the gig. "It doesn't matter if you're in Boston or not, the job is a challenge. But it's a good challenge and I love a challenge," he said. "That goes back to my playing days and didn't change in my coaching days. I want to get challenged every day from my coaches and players, because I know that will make me better. "I know the expectation here and how it is," he added. "As long as I'm putting in my work and preparation, we'll be in good shape." Marco Sturm's coaching staff with Bruins Sweeney revealed Tuesday that assistant coaches Chris Kelly and Jay Leach will remain in Boston on Sturm's staff, as will longtime goalie coach Bob Essensa. That leaves one more spot on his coaching staff, which Sturm and the team is already exploring options to fill. "I'm looking at everything right now. Experience, young, it doesn't matter," said Sturm. "At the end of the day it's got to be the right fit for me and the team. Yes, we want someone who has power play experience. But again, we're in that process of looking right now. "There are a lot of coaches out there and I'm confident we'll find the right one who checks the boxes we need. But it has to be a good fit too," continued Sturm. "I have to be comfortable, the team has to be comfortable. We are going to set the tone and we have to come out very strong and very prepared. The coaching staff, we're going to be together every day so it's a big hire for me."
Newsweek
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch 2025 Boston Marathon: Live Stream, Time, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The 2025 Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 21st, for the 129th running of the historic event. Former Boston Bruins NHL player Zdeno Chara (center #3333) looks on before he crosses the finish line of the 128th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Former Boston Bruins NHL player Zdeno Chara (center #3333) looks on before he crosses the finish line of the 128th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Omar Rawlings How to Watch 2025 Boston Marathon: Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM ET Channel: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes Stream: FuboTV (TRY FOR FREE) The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world, dating back to 1897. It is one of the most popular and well-known races, making it a must-see spectacle every year. The 2025 running of the event is projected to have around 30,000 participants, including former NHL player Zdeno Chara, NASCAR superstar Danica Patrick, and many other notable names in the entertainment industry. The course record was set in 2014 by Geoffrey Mutai with a time of 2:03:02. Last year's winner of the men's division was Sisay Lemma from Ethiopia at 2:06:17, and Hellen Obiri took home the title in the women's division, clocking a time of 2:22:37. This is a fantastic event with a storied history that will not disappoint; make sure to tune in and catch all the action. Live stream 2025 Boston Marathon with FuboTV: Start your subscription now! This event can be streamed on ESPN2 with a one-month free subscription to FuboTV. Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Which celebrities are participating in the 2025 Boston Marathon?
Drew Carter, Celtics commentator for NBC Sports Boston He has Last year was Carter's first as a Celtics broadcaster. He watched some of the race from near the finish line and saw how it is such an important part of the city's fabric. Advertisement 'I just thought it was the coolest scene ever,' Related : Zdeno Chara, Bruins legend Zdeno Chara, the former Bruins captain and future NHL Hall of Famer, ran Boston for the first time in 2023 then again in 2024. At 6 foot 9, Chara towers over the competition, making him easy to spot along the course. He turned in a time of 3:30:53 in Boston a year ago, then flew to London and dropped a time of 3:11:04 six days later. Chara has now run half a dozen marathons and recently began competing in Ironman triathlons. Related : Advertisement Alice Cook, former WBZ sports reporter and Olympic figure skater This year will be Alice Cook's second year running the race (her third time overall) since being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in December 2023. Related : The disease robbed her ability to speak, but Cook, 69, has remained able to run and maintain an active lifestyle despite the diagnosis. Cook is running in support of the charity Former figure skater and WBZ broadcaster Alice Cook will run the Boston Marathon despite an ALS diagnosis. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Matt James, former Bachelor Since competing on 'The Bachelor' in 2021, Matt James has done a bit of everything. He finished in 12th place in season 30 of 'Dancing With The Stars,' became a food influencer (887k followers on Instagram), and started running marathons, all while working in commercial real estate in New York City. James, who played college football at Wake Forest, ran the New York Marathon in 2022 and 2023. This will be his first year competing in the Boston Marathon, and while running, Scott Stallings, PGA Tour golfer Hailing from Worcester, Scott Stallings has three career wins on the PGA Tour. Running the Boston Marathon 'seems like the perfect way to celebrate my 40th birthday and raise some money for a great cause in the process,' Stallings Paula Radcliffe, former marathon world record holder Before this year, Paula Radcliffe, 51, hadn't run a marathon since London in 2015, but she picked up right where she left off earlier this year, running the Tokyo Marathon in 2:57:26. Boston will be her second marathon in six weeks. Advertisement Racliffe, from Great Britain, held the marathon world record for 16 years, from 2003-2019, with her time of 2:15:25. Henry Richard, brother of 2013 bombing victim Martin Richard After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing killed his younger brother, Martin, and seriously injured his mother, Denise, and sister, Jane, Henry Richard returned almost every year to Boylston to watch the race. Related : He has now run every Boston Marathon since 2022, participating on behalf of Team MR8, a group representing the Martin Richard Foundation. This year, he will be running and fundraising to benefit Henry Richard ran the 2024 Boston Marathon with three friends in support of Team MR8. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Shane Sager, Sting's harmonica player Shane Sager, a Boston-based musician, plays the harmonica Troy Hoyt, grandson of Dick Hoyt Dick and Rick Hoyt were staples of the Boston Marathon for decades, as the father-son duo completed 32 races together, which Dick pushing his son, Rick, in a wheelchair along the course. Rick, a quadriplegic who had cerebral palsy, Troy Hoyt, one of Dick's grandsons, has run the past two Marathons in Dick and Rick's honor. He raised money along the way for Team Hoyt, part of the Hoyt Foundation, which was formed with the goal of building 'the individual character, self-confidence, and self-esteem of America's young people with disabilities through inclusion in all facets of daily life,' according to its website. Advertisement Emily Maher, WCVB reporter A general assignment reporter for WCVB, Maher This year, she will be running in support of the Dave Fortier, 2013 Boston Marathon bombing survivor While running the Boston Marathon in 2013 in support of a friend, Fortier was injured by the first bomb. He suffered shrapnel wounds and hearing loss. After the attack, Fortier and other survivors were moved by the support offered to them by the He has run more than dozen marathons since that first race in 2013, including Boston last year. Dave Fortier pauses to kneel at the site of the Marathon bombing before crossing the finish line of the 125th Boston Marathon. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Brian Diemer, 1984 Olympic steeplechase bronze medalist Representing Team USA, Brian Diemer won bronze in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He was also the 1983 NCAAA steeplechase champion for the University of Michigan. He will be running with his daughter, McKenzie Pluymert. Lexi Watts, Isabelle Jensen, and Lizzie Ramey, running influencers Watts, Jensen, and Ramey are close friends and content creators who live in Utah and share running videos with their 583,000 combined followers on TikTok and Instagram. Advertisement They've become known for donning colorful — and often matching — outfits and dancing along the trails during training runs and races. Related : Past winners competing in 2025 Hellen Obiri, 2023 and 2024 winner Kenya's Hellen Obiri, who Sisay Lemma, 2024 winner Lemma arrived in Boston for the 128th Boston Marathon having come up short three times in seven years, dropping out in 2017 and 2022 and finishing 30th in 2019. He put those failures behind him, Amby Burfoot, 1968 winner During his senior year at Wesleyan in 1968, Burfoot won the Boston Marathon. More than a 50 years later, Burfoot has completed the race more than a dozen times, including a 4:59:58 mark in 2024. Evans Chebet, 2022 and 2023 winner Kenya's Evans Chebet won Boston in 2022 and 2023 and finished in third place a year ago. Lelisa Desisa, 2013 and 2015 winner Desisa, of Ethiopia, won Boston twice, in 2013 and 2015. He also won a World Championship in the marathon in 2019 and took silver in 2013. Des Linden, 2018 winner This year's race will be Linden's 12th time competing in the Boston Marathon, a streak which included a win for the American in 2018. Related : Edna Kiplagat, 2017 and 2021 winner With the 2017 title already under her belt, Kiplagat was awarded the 2021 women's title after original winner Diana Kipyokei was Advertisement Sharon Cherop Cherop, of Kenya, won Boston in 2012 amid soaring temperatures on race day. Marcel Hug, seven-time winner Wheelchair athlete and Daniel Romanchuk, 2019 and 2022 winner Romanchuk, of the U.S., and Hug, of Switzerland, are the only two competitors to have won the men's wheelchair division in the past decade. Joshua Cassidy Cassidy, of Canada, set a course record (1:18:25) with his win in 2012, before Hug bested his mark for the first time five years later. Eden Rainbow-Cooper, 2024 winner Rainbow-Cooper pulled off an unexpected win last year, as the 22-year-old coasted to victory in a stacked field, making her Great Britain's first Boston champion in the women's wheelchair division. Manuela Schar, four-time winner Schar, of Switzerland, won her first title and set the course record in the women's wheelchair division in 2017, then won three more times from 2019-2022. Susannah Scaroni, 2023 winner Scaroni, of the U.S., unseated Schar with her win in 2023, becoming the first American since Tatyana McFadden (2018) to win the women's wheelchair division. Tatyanna McFadden, five-time winner McFadden has five wins in Boston to her name, including four straight from 2013-16. Emma can be reached at
CBS News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Zdeno Chara reportedly joining Bruins as a front office consultant, mentor for players
BOSTON -- Zdeno Chara is rejoining the Boston Bruins, though the 47-year-old will not be locking down the blue line with a Spoked-B on his chest. Chances are Chara could still take the ice for the Bruins, but that isn't what his role will be this time around. Chara is set to rejoin the organization as a front office consultant and a mentor to Boston's players, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney confirmed the team is exploring an advisory role with Chara in a statement to the Globe on Wednesday. "The Boston Bruins are excited to be exploring the opportunity to welcome Zdeno Chara in an advisory role that supports our players and coaches," Sweeney said in the statement. "We have had an open invitation and ongoing dialogue with Zdeno to return in some capacity whenever he felt it was right for both he and his family. Zdeno recently indicated he has interest to help and be involved. While his schedule and role are still unfolding, we believe he can make a positive impact on the organization as a mentor to our players and advisor to our coaching staff." Chara signed a one-day contract to retire a member of the Bruins in 2022, and said he would like to return to the franchise at some point. It looks like he's ready for the next chapter of his career, as Chara was at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton on Wednesday to check out the team's optional practice. It sounds like Chara could become a fixture at the team's practice facility and TD Garden in the near future. Zdeno Chara's Boston Bruins career Chara changed the culture of the Bruins franchise when the 6-foot-9 defenseman signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the team in 2006. He was named team captain upon his arrival, and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman after the 2008-09 season. Chara helped the Bruins make the playoffs in 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston, including the team's dramatic run to a Stanley Cup title in 2011. The Bruins made two other Cup Finals during Chara's tenure, in 2013 and 2019. Big Z sits atop the Boston record books in a number of categories, ranking first in games played (1,023), plus-minus rating (+240), penalty minutes (1,055), and time on ice per game (24:29). Chara last played for the Bruins during the 2019-20 season, and finished his Boston career with 148 goals and 333 assists for 481 points. Chara, who is the tallest player to ever suit up in the NHL, also owns the league's record for games played by a defenseman at 1,652 games. He'll be eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame this summer, and will likely get in on his first time on the ballot. Chara still lives in Massachusetts, though he's stayed busy in his retired life by running a number of marathons and Ironman triathlons around the globe. He ran his second Boston Marathon in 2024, and shaved seven minutes off his previous finish time.
