@BruinsNetwork had a good quick overview of the candidates
View: https://twitter.com/BruinsNetwork/status/1537066260067979270?s=20&t=9uotTszVp3PtsYkUDI4x6Q
Each candidate here provides something different, let’s start with Jim Montgomery. Once the head coach of Dallas, Montgomery held a .567 and .609 PTS% from 2018-2020. He was fired, sought treatment for alcoholism in rehab and then joined the Blues.
Montgomery also went 125-57-26 for Denver in the NCAA. He’s got a really solid track record in high-level hockey, including recently playing for the Blues. For what it’s worth, I’ve heard players really like him and he would probably be a solid fit here
Jay Leach would be my top candidate if I were hiring for the position. I’ve been around his locker room and I’ve spoken to just about every player to come through Providence under him. His guys rarely take a night off and are hardly ever unprepared
Leach, as head coach of Providence, finished his seasons with .625, .572, .661 and .680 PTS% respectfully. He’s had his hand in developing various NHL players so far, like Zboril, Clifton, Frederic, Steen, Lauzon, Vladar, Kuhlman and Vaakanainen.
Joe Sacco, no disrespect to him, but I truly don’t believe he’s a legitmate candidate for this position, nor should the Bruins be promoting him for it. I don’t see how that’s much of a different voice from Cassidy as he was on his bench the whole time.
Spencer Carbery is very intriguing and I love that he’s getting a look. Leach’s former assistant in Providence and HC of Hershey, Carbery is a forward-thinking hockey mind. Has a good handle on the way the game is trending and worked wonders on Toronto’s powerplay.
Carbery has worked his way up from the ECHL, to the AHL and now the NHL with Toronto as an Assistant Coach. His record as HC of Hershey saw him with a .618, .653, .758 PTS% respectfully. He’ll be in the NHL as a head coach sooner than later, IMO.
David Quinn is interesting because we all know how he did in New York and the results weren’t great. That said, he’s also another guy who says all the right things and players generally speak well about. McAvoy has played under him and that’s a valuable connection.
Quinn probably wouldn’t be my first choice, but after speaking to various people in the hockey realm who are much smarter than me, I wouldn’t hate the move. Keep in mind as well, Quinn is from my hometown and I know plenty of people close to him. He’s highly regarded.
In Quinn’s defense, though, he really wasn’t bad at all in New York. Like I said, not great, but not bad my any means, IMO. Quinn had .476, .564 and .536 PTS% respectfully in New York. I’d imagine he had a positive impact on younger guys during that time as well.