Bruins GM didn't look for validation from players during coach search
BOSTON — Don Sweeney had a big decision to make this offseason when it came to the Bruins' new coach.
After talking to about 14 candidates, the general manager landed on Marco Sturm. The German-born forward will be Boston's third coach in as many seasons.
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The Bruins missed the playoffs in 2024-25 for the first time in nearly a decade. The team struggled to find consistency — especially offensively — and Sweeney his decision on who to name the next coach would be a crucial one.
During Sturm's introductory press conference on Tuesday, Sweeney was asked whether he sought the input from players. And while he said he discussed with them characteristics during exit interviews, the conversations didn't go further than that.
'During the process, I did not run a particular name or style by our players,' he said. 'I think our players innately want to be coached. They want to have an understanding of how they're going to be coached, and they value the same things we organizationally value: Communication, respect and culture.
'I wasn't looking for validation from our players in any way, shape or form from deciding who the coach was going to be,' Sweeney later added. 'I want them to understand that Marco's in charge, and we think we've picked a really good coach, and they're going to go to work.'
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Sturm is familiar with the Bruins, though most of his former teammates have retired. The 46-year-old was traded to Boston in 2005 as part of the deal that sent Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks. The forward scored 106 goals during his tenure, but perhaps none more memorable than his overtime game-winner in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Even though this is Sturm's first NHL head coaching job, Sweeney is confident he can help turn the team around and get them back into the playoffs.
'Marco went through some of the things that he felt that we had done well but things that we had gotten away from and where the league is at and where the league is heading to,' Sweeney said. 'It's all important parts of it, and the player development part of it was certainly a big part of those conversations and how you do integrate the players and when they're going to be ready and having connectivity with your minor-league program.'
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