The Boston Bruins are narrowing down candidates to be their next coach, and another finalist has entered the mix.
Jay Leach had an in-person interview at Warrior Ice Arena and is finalist for the position, a league source told The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa on Thursday.
Leach was an assistant coach for the Bruins last season and was in charge of defense. Before that, he spent three years with the Seattle Kraken after he was coach of the Providence Bruins for four seasons.
Boston’s defense allowed 3.30 goals per game in 2024-25 — which was 26th in the NHL. The Bruins were without Hampus Lindholm for much of the season due to a knee injury, and Charlie McAvoy missed the second half with an AC joint injury. Both players are expected to be healthy for training camp.
Ontario Reign coach and former Bruins forward Marco Sturm and Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love are also finalists. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta added that former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft is also among those still in contention.
Joe Sacco, who took over as interim coach after Jim Montgomery was fired, was originally in the mix, but it’s unclear where things stand with him.
General manager Don Sweeney told the Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy that he expects to have a coach in place “well before” the NHL Entry Draft, which begins on June 27.
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