Recently Fired NHL Coach Interested In Bruins Job

Boston Bruins management has already confirmed that they are having a coaching search. They have not ruled out the possibility of promoting interim head coach Joe Sacco to the full-time position, but the Bruins are weighing all of their options before making their decision.

The NHL has already seen multiple coaches get fired since the regular-season ended, so the Bruins certainly have some options to consider. In fact, one recently fired coach made it clear that he is interested in becoming the Bruins' next head coach.

While speaking to the Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont, former Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said he would be ecstatic if offered the head coaching position of the Bruins.

"I'm a coach, right?" Cronin said. "All these openings, I'll throw my hat and see what comes back. I mean, heck, I'd be doing handsprings and jumping over rainbows if I got the Bruins' job. I'm a Boston guy, and for a Boston guy, that's hitting the lottery times 10!"

Cronin was just fired by the Ducks at the end of this season. The Arlington, Massachusetts native just completed his second campaign with the Ducks and led the team to a 35-37-10 record. This was Anaheim's best record since 2018-19, but the Ducks still decided to go in another direction. 

While Cronin has his eye on the Bruins' head coaching job, it is not currently known if the Original Six club is interested in him. It will be intriguing to see if he becomes a candidate for the position from here. 

Bruins Forward Could Become Important Piece Next Season

Casey Mittelstadt was one of the multiple new players the Boston Bruins added during their massive fire sale at the trade deadline. The Bruins acquired Mittelstadt as a part of the deal that sent Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche. 

With the Bruins needing more younger, skilled forwards, it is understandable that they brought in the 26-year-old Mittelstadt. However, Mittelstadt struggled with the Bruins following the trade, posting four goals, six points, and a notable minus-17 rating in 18 games. With this, he ended his campaign with 15 goals and 40 points in 81 games split between the Avalanche and Bruins.

While Mittelstadt's start with the Bruins was not the greatest, fans should not give up on the 2017 eighth-overall pick. It sometimes can take a player time to adjust to a new team, and Mittelstadt has shown good promise in recent seasons. Thus, the possibility of a bounce-back season from him is undoubtedly there.

During the 2022-23 season with the Buffalo Sabres, Mittlestadt scored 15 goals and recorded a career-high 59 points in 82 games. He then followed that up with 18 goals and 57 points in 80 games split between the Sabres and Colorado Avalanche during the 2023-24 campaign. Thus, when playing at his best, he can be an impactful second-line forward, which is something Boston needs.

If Mittelstadt bounces back next season and regains his previous offensive production, he could become a big piece of the Bruins' roster moving forward. They need more offense from down the middle, and Mittelstadt should be given plenty of chances to succeed with the Bruins. It will be fascinating to see if he can have a big year in 2025-26 with the Original Six club from here.