BRIGHTON, Mass. — Joe Sacco is in charge. Any resumes that arrive in Don Sweeney’s inbox will not be up for immediate consideration.
“I just ruled out that I wasn’t going to go out and do a coaching search right now,” the Boston Bruins general manager said on Wednesday.
Sacco is ready for the position. Since 2014, the Medford native has learned under Claude Julien, Bruce Cassidy and Jim Montgomery to optimize himself for the Bruins wheel.
“Everybody has different personalities and different ways to motivate their teams and individuals,” Sacco said. “You take the good you want to take from certain individuals. But at the end of the day, if you’re not yourself, it doesn’t work.”
Sacco is a straight shooter. The 55-year-old’s strength is his experience. While serving his hometown team, the Medford native has specialized in multiple areas, most lately the penalty kill.
“He’s basically done everything from being the D coach when I first got here to forward, power play, penalty kill, everything in between,” Charlie McAvoy said. “His experience is vast. Possibly the most important thing is he understands, like a lot of the guys like myself who have been here, what it looks like and what it feels like to be a Bruin — what the standard is every single day and what we’re going to recapture moving forward.”
Sacco’s title, however, remains interim head coach. Everyone is under evaluation, from Sweeney to Sacco to every player on the roster. So if Sacco cannot straighten out the team by year’s end, the permanent position does not necessarily belong to him.
Who could Sweeney be keeping an eye on while monitoring the team under Sacco? Here’s an early look at six candidates:
Jay Leach
Sweeney brought Leach back this season as an assistant coach for a reason: He believes in the 45-year-old. Leach spent the past two seasons as an assistant to Dave Hakstol in Seattle. Before that, he was the AHL Providence coach for four seasons. Trent Frederic and Jeremy Swayman played for Leach there.
Leach emphasized positivity and growth mindset in Providence. Players who developed into NHLers under Leach, a former defenseman, include Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril. Leach’s familiarity with the organization and his head coaching experience put him atop the list.
Like Sacco, Leach interviewed for the job that Montgomery won in 2022.
Ryan Mougenel
Mougenel is in his third season as Providence’s head coach. He was Leach’s assistant before being promoted.
He is a high-energy, glass-half-full coach. He has helped Johnny Beecher and Justin Brazeau become full-time Bruins. Georgii Merkulov is hoping to join that category.
Mougenel has yet to turn the same trick with Fabian Lysell, who has one goal in 12 games this year. He is also tasked with helping Matt Poitras return to Boston.
Todd McLellan
The 57-year-old is probably the most high-profile ex-head coach looking for an opportunity. McLellan was most recently behind the Los Angeles Kings bench following stops with the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks.
The Bruins would most likely have to invest term and salary to hire McLellan.
Gerard Gallant
Like McLellan, Gallant is waiting for another NHL shot. He deserves it. Gallant had results with the New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers.
Players have enjoyed working with Gallant.
Jay Pandolfo
Pandolfo was a Bruins assistant for five years before leaving to become Boston University’s associate coach in 2021. A year later, after BU fired head coach Albie O’Connell, Pandolfo took over the Terriers. BU lost to Denver, the eventual NCAA champion, in the Frozen Four last year.
Whether Pandolfo wants to return to the NHL’s schedule and travel is unknown. Pandolfo is a BU alum.
Chris Kelly
The ex-Bruin and current assistant is close with Brad Marchand, which works in his favor. But Kelly is in charge of the NHL’s worst power play.
Kelly is in his fourth season as an assistant. The 44-year-old does not have head coaching experience.
(Top photos of Todd McLellan and Gerard Gallant: Christian Petersen / Getty Images and Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)
