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Don Sweeney offers update on Boston Bruins coaching search

Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney speaks during a news conference at the hockey team's practice facility, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)AP

The Bruins have taken the first steps in their coaching search.

Boston’s brass has reached out to some candidates and Don Sweeney characterized the process as “ongoing," adding there are people he’d like to interview that are still in the playoffs.

“Have spoken to some coaches,” Sweeney said after the NHL Draft lottery, which saw the Bruins drop to seventh. “Haven’t done any in person interviews yet, but we’ve narrowed a list down, and we’re going to move forward with some Zoom interviews, and then in person interviews, in a very short manner.”

As for any decisions on the current coaching staff, Sweeney characterized that as still in “a holding pattern.”

“(Interim coach Joe Sacco) would be part of the search. Jay Leach will be part of the search,” Sweeney said. “So again, when I reference that we’ll have a new head coach, it could easily be one of them. They’re strong candidates, and they’ll be in the candidate pool, and along with some other really good, experienced level coaches and different levels that we’re going to find the right guy.”

Though still early in the process, Sweeney was pleased with the feedback he’s gotten from candidates thus far.

“This is an exciting opportunity for coaches to be interviewing for this position, and that’s the indication that they would be very excited about maybe being the head coach of the Boston Bruins,” Sweeney said. “That’s the first and foremost thing that’s come across, happy to be part of the selection of being interviewed, and more fortunate they are.

“I think they’re starting to gather information on the roster and the players that we have in place. And, first question people ask in terms of how healthy we’re going to be and the return to that full health so that players, that they expect impact (from) will be back to do what they do. But the overriding excitement as we are to turn a page and come to the decision that we’ve got the right guy in place.”