JUST IN: “After Season Collapse and Star Trades, Bruins Turn to Surprising New Leader” As Bruins Hire Olympic Hero Marco Sturm As Head Coach to Rebuild From Rock Bottom

The Boston Bruins announced on Thursday that Marco Sturm will take over as the team’s new head coach, with the goal of returning the franchise to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2016.

Sturm, 46, replaces interim coach Joe Sacco, who stepped in for Jim Montgomery in November and led the Bruins to a 25-30-7 record following a trade deadline roster shakeup. A former Bruins forward (2005–2010), Sturm brings coaching experience from both the AHL and international level, most notably guiding Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He recently spent three seasons coaching the Ontario Reign, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.

“Boston has always been close to my heart,” Sturm said. “I know what this team means to the city and its fans. I felt that as a player — and I’m ready to feel it again as head coach.” Sturm is second all-time in NHL scoring among German-born players, with 242 goals and 245 assists over 938 games, mainly with the Sharks and Bruins.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney praised Sturm’s coaching journey, citing his diverse background across the NHL, AHL, and international hockey. “Marco embodies the energy, standards, and toughness we expect in Bruins hockey,” Sweeney said. “As a former player here, he understands the expectations.”

Sacco, a longtime Bruins assistant and former Avalanche head coach, took over mid-season but couldn’t turn things around. The front office eventually traded away longtime captain Brad Marchand and several key veterans, leading to a 33-39-10 finish—tied for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Only three teams in the league had worse seasons.

CEO Charlie Jacobs called the results “absolutely unacceptable,” apologized to fans, and promised to deliver a better product moving forward. Sacco was considered for the full-time job, along with other candidates including Mitch Love, Luke Richardson, and Jay Leach.

Montgomery, who was fired after a sluggish 8-9-3 start this season, had led the Bruins to back-to-back 100+ point seasons, including a historic 65-win campaign in 2022–23. Despite regular-season success, the team failed to advance past the second round in the playoffs. After his dismissal, Montgomery was quickly hired by the St. Louis Blues and took them to the playoffs.

Following Marchand’s trade and a disastrous 10-game losing streak, the Bruins collapsed from a playoff hopeful to a lottery team. Still, the organization extended GM Don Sweeney’s contract for two more years, with president Cam Neely emphasizing the need for front-office stability during the coaching transition.

“Our expectations have always been about winning championships,” Neely said. “Marco is part of that vision now.”