Bruins assistant Jay Leach reportedly a finalist for head-coaching position
Leach is a familiar face for the Bruins, as he has been involved in Boston’s organization for six seasons — split across two tenures.
The Bruins’ finalists for the team’s head-coaching position reportedly include an in-house candidate.
According to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, Bruins assistant coach Jay Leach remains in the running to take over as Boston’s bench boss – with Shinzawa citing “a league source who was granted anonymity to discuss conversations regarding hockey operations personnel.”
Shinzawa added that Leach conducted an in-person interview with the Bruins on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena.
Leach, 45, is one of several reported finalists still in the mix for Boston’s head-coaching spot — with Shinzawa reporting earlier this week that Capitals assistant Mitch Love and former Bruins winger (and current AHL coach) Marco Sturm were also still in consideration.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, former Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft is also among the “remaining contenders” for the Bruins job.
Leach is a familiar face for the Bruins, as he has been involved in Boston’s organization for six seasons — split across two tenures.
Leach just wrapped up his first season as an assistant coach on Boston’s staff, with the New York native and former defenseman tasked with overseeing the Bruins’ defense in 2024-25.
It was a tough season for the Bruins’ defense last year, with injuries to Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm further compounding Boston’s issues. The Bruins allowed 3.30 goals per game last season — which ranked 26th in the NHL.
Before the 2024-25 campaign, Leach spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach on Dave Hakstol’s staff with the Seattle Kraken.
In his first stint with Boston’s organization, Leach was an assistant coach with the Providence Bruins before taking over as Providence’s head coach for four seasons from 2017-21.
Boston has cast a wide net in their search for Jim Montgomery’s replacement as the Bruins’ head coach. According to Shinzawa, Love completed his in-person interview with the team on Wednesday, while Sturm will meet with Boston on Friday.
Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson reported on X Tuesday night that Sturm “is set to become the next Boston Bruins head coach.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted during Wednesday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast that Sturm remains one of the favorites in Boston’s head-coaching search.
“As we record this late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I’m under the impression Strum is supposed to still visit Boston,” Friedman said. “Whether that’s to do another interview or be given the job, I can’t say that… but he’s very much in it.”
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