Rumour Roundup: Latest on training vacancies in Pittsburgh, Boston, Seattle

As each third-round sequence close to an in depth, 3 groups that ignored out at the Stanley Cup Playoffs are nonetheless looking for a brand new bench boss to steer them again to prominence.

In the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman equipped his newest perception as to the place the training seek stands for all 3 groups.

The Penguins are in an unfamiliar spot after agreeing to section tactics with long-time bench boss Mike Sullivan, who had coached the staff since early within the 2015-16 season.

According to Friedman, the Penguins are simply beginning their in-person visits.

As for who is on that checklist, Friedman had a couple of names he thinks the Penguins are taking into consideration.

“Mitch Love, I mentioned earlier this week, I think he was going to Pittsburgh this week,” Friedman mentioned. “I’m thinking D.J. Smith, I’m thinking Jay Woodcroft … I’ll always admit I could be missing names, that there are things out there I don’t see. But I think those are three of Pittsburgh’s finalists.”

Love, 40, spent the previous two seasons underneath head trainer Spencer Carbery with the Washington Capitals, operating principally with defencemen and serving to lead the staff to a best seed within the Eastern Conference.

Smith, 48, was once a former assistant trainer with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier than he was once employed as head trainer of the Ottawa Senators previous to the 2019-20 season. He was once fired via Ottawa halfway thru 2023-24 and is recently an assistant trainer with the Los Angeles Kings.

Meanwhile, Woodcroft was once ultimate at the back of the bench as the top trainer of the Edmonton Oilers. He was once fired early in his 1/3 season with Edmonton after the staff were given off to a 3-9-1 get started in 2023-24.

After making the playoffs for 16 instantly seasons from 2007-22, together with 3 Stanley Cups, the Penguins have now ignored the playoffs in 3 consecutive seasons.

Boston is in search of a brand new head trainer after letting pass of Jim Montgomery halfway during the 2024-25 season.

Montgomery was once changed via Joe Sacco on an meantime foundation.

According to Friedman, he believes there are two severe contenders for the Bruins process.

“There were duelling reports on Monday. There was one report that Woodcroft was negotiating a contract or compensation with Boston, and there was another report that (Marco) Sturm was going to be the head coach,” Friedman mentioned. “I have been on the Sturm train early … All I can tell you, as we record this late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I’m under the impression Sturm is still supposed to visit Boston.”

Whether that talk over with is some other interview or to be given the process, Friedman could not say needless to say. But he believes Sturm continues to be “very much in it” and has some other talk over with covered up with the Bruins.

Friedman additionally believes that Woodcroft is a “legit contender for the job,” however could not verify the document that former Oilers head trainer was once in Boston negotiating a freelance.

Germany’s Sturm, 46, has led the Reign – the AHL associate of the Los Angeles Kings – for the previous 3 seasons. He additionally coached Germany to a males’s hockey silver medal on the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

As a participant, Sturm had 438 issues in 938 profession video games with the San Jose Sharks, Bruins, Kings, Canucks (six video games), Capitals and Florida Panthers.

Friedman additionally would not totally rule out two names who’re already within the group.

“I’ve heard Jay Leach’s name in there, and I’ve heard Joe Sacco’s name in there,” Friedman mentioned. “So as we record this, I haven’t been given an indication either one of them have been told they’re out.”

Leach, 45, was once an assistant trainer with the Bruins throughout the 2024-25 season.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Kraken are again within the training seek for a 2nd instantly season after firing head trainer Dan Bylsma after only one yr on the helm.

According to Friedman, he believes the Seattle process goes to return down to 2 names.

“No change since last pod where I mentioned (Lane) Lambert, (David) Quinn,” Friedman mentioned. “I think Sturm and (Mitch) Love were in there too, but I just don’t know if they were the most likely candidates there because they had other options, too, and wanted to see how those situations play out.”

Lambert, 60, was once an assistant trainer with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25. He was once prior to now the top trainer for the New York Islanders earlier than the staff changed him with Patrick Roy halfway thru his 2nd season in 2023-24.

Quinn, 58, was once an assistant in Pittsburgh this season after 3 seasons because the San Jose Sharks’ head trainer.