Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - The Boston Bruins are expected to name a new head coach at a press conference later this week. Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell was set to make the announcement on Wednesday, but temporarily postponed a press conference due to scheduling difficulties. O'Connell is believed to have narrowed the candidates to ex-Bruin Mike Sullivan, New Jersey assistant coach (and former Bruin) Bob Carpenter and Devils consultant Larry Robinson. Robbie Ftorek was fired as the Bruins head coach in March and O'Connell took over behind the bench for the rest of the season. The team finished as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and was eliminated in five games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins were 33-28-8-4 when Ftorek was canned, in just his second season as Boston's head coach. He led Boston to the best record in the Eastern Conference during the 2001-02 season with 101 points, but the Bruins suffered a first-round playoff exit against eighth-seeded Montreal. O'Connell has said that he would like to have the new coach in place before this weekend's NHL entry draft in Nashville. The Bruins' first pick in the draft will come at No. 16 in the first round. |
