Dallas Stars assistant Misha Donskov perhaps? Or Toronto Maple Leafs assistant and former Bruin Marc Savard? While we know it won’t be Denver coach David Carle making the jump from the NCAAs, Sweeney does seem ready to break the NHL mold of recycling coaches, less interested in the likes of Peter Laviolette or John Tortorella and more in finding a new voice. So let the Rangers have Mike Sullivan , a win-now coach who might not have the patience to grow with the type of rebuild the Bruins need. As much as team CEO Charlie Jacobs believes this is still a playoff team , he did not issue a mandate as a condition for Sweeney and team president Cam Neely keeping their jobs. In fact, Jacobs said he would have “patience” if signs were pointing upward. That seems more likely with a young, growing coach to build a new foundation alongside core players David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman. And, of course, a coach less likely to be scared off by Sweeney’s relatively quick hook. Numbers don’t lie, and despite his defensiveness at the year-end autopsy press conference, Sweeney has fired three coaches in his tenure. So it was interesting to hear him point out this reaction on the part of prospective candidates. “This is an exciting opportunity for coaches to be interviewing for this position, and that’s the indication — that they would be very excited about maybe being the head coach of the Boston Bruins,” Sweeney said Monday. “That’s the first and foremost thing that [I’ve] come across, happy to be part of the selection of being interviewed.” ⋅ Another reminder why it hurts so much to miss the NHL playoffs, the most exciting and dramatic format of them all? Game 7 between Winnipeg and St. Louis. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets escaped the first-round series with a double-overtime win that included two six-on-five, pulled-goalie goals in the final 1:56, with the one that tied the game coming with a mere 2.2 seconds left in regulation. The nailbiting energy of overtime, do-or-die, golden-goal playoff hockey is unmatched. ⋅ Did you see ousted Jim Montgomery coming thisclose to pulling off the very same upset that befell his Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins in 2023? Even after this loss, kudos to Monty for the turnaround in St. Louis , where he was hired only five days after getting fired in Boston. A league-best 19-4-2 finish over the final 25 games included a franchise-record 12 straight wins and a playoff spot that was a long shot when he took over a 9-12-1 team. ⋅ Meanwhile, another former Bruin keeps on pumping. Brad Marchand, our favorite energizer bunny, is fitting in quite nicely in Florida, helping the defending champion Panthers into their second-round meeting with the Maple Leafs. After recording four assists in Florida’s opening-series win over Tampa Bay, the 36-year-old notched two more assists in the opening Round 2 loss to the Leafs, sparking a rally from an early 4-1 deficit. It’s fun to read of his new teammates’ surprise at how much they actually “like” their onetime heated foe. “Good person and fun to be around,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad told the Associated Press. “Great poker player, as well.” ⋅ What a tough break for Triston Casas . A torn patellar tendon is such a brutal injury to come back from, which I saw up close covering former Giants receiver Victor Cruz. Cruz sustained the same injury in October 2014, missing the remainder of that season and then all of 2015 with a calf injury he believed stemmed from overcompensation in recovery. He did play again in 2016, but nearing 30, his career was essentially finished as a result. ⋅ Sorry we won’t see Gregg Popovich on the sidelines anymore, but so good to see him make a public appearance this week as he assumed the title of Spurs “el jefe,” a.k.a. “the boss.” Pop’s lasting impact needed no more explanation than the presence of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili by his side. ⋅ The Ravens really, really want you to know they cut Justin Tucker for football reasons , and nothing to do with an ongoing NFL investigation stemming from multiple accusations he sexually assaulted many massage therapists. “Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances. Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker,” GM Eric DeCosta said as part of a statement that made no mention of any off-the-field concerns. ⋅ No to a Pete Rose reinstatement . No, just no.
CONTINUE READING
