Jay Woodcroft has emerged as the leading candidate for the Bruins’ head coaching job, with Marco Sturm and Jay Leach still in contention as Boston nears its final decision.
It’s been a bumpy coaching search for the Bruins. They missed out on some big names early on, including Mike Sullivan and Rick Tocchet, forcing them to pivot to Plan B.
The reason for those misses? It might come down to front office dynamics.
Sources close to Tocchet say he actually turned Boston down, largely because of concerns about General Manager Don Sweeney. He wasn’t comfortable with Sweeney’s reputation and his history of handling head coaches.
That’s a pretty big red flag for a franchise trying to attract top coaching talent.
But now there’s fresh momentum around a new name. NHL insider Jimmy Murphy dropped some interesting news on his podcast yesterday:
“Marco Sturm and Jay Leach were frontrunners to become the next HC of the #NHLBruins,” Murphy reported. “That is still true, but I’ve since been told by two trusted sources that former Oilers HC Jay Woodcroft is too, and may be ‘The Frontrunner.'”
Woodcroft’s sudden rise to the top of the list is turning heads around the league. He’s got an impressive track record, most recently with Edmonton, where he showed he could handle star players and high expectations.
The timing is getting crucial for Boston. They’re one of the last teams still looking for a head coach, and they’ll want someone in place before serious off-season planning begins.
It’s a decision that could shape the Bruins’ future for years to come. After all, in today’s NHL, having the right coach behind the bench can make all the difference between a good team and a great one.
