Bruins have solidified coaching roles for 2022-23 season
The Bruins have nailed down the duties for their coaching staff in 2022-23.
Oct 23, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery yells to his team during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
It's been over a month since the Bruins formally introduced Jim Montgomery as the team's new head coach.
Since then, the Bruins have officially brought Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci back into the mix, and completed Montgomery's staff with the hiring of ex-Islanders assistant John Gruden. The Bruins have done juuuuuuust about everything they can between now and the start of training camp.
But the Boston Herald's Steve Conroy is not one for days off, and found the time to catch up with Montgomery before the official start of his first season behind the Boston bench.
The conversation was an insightful one (and then some), and gave a peek into what Montgomery expects to bring to the table for the Bruins in this season and in future seasons for that matter.
It was a conversation that also came with some clarity in regards to the B's coaching style and responsibilities entering the 2022-23 season.
Apr 27, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Penguins right winger Bryan Rust (17) is pressured by Patrice Bergeron (37) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73). (Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports)
One thing Montgomery plans to keep is the Black and Gold's zone defense.
It's a structure that's been both familiar and good to the Bruins dating all the way back to Claude Julien, and was how Bruce Cassidy ran things prior to his firing.
Montgomery plans to make some tweaks, of course, but he acknowledged the team's defensive success as the biggest reason for not reinventing the wheel on that front.
Speaking to that defensive success, it's worth mentioning that the Bruins surrendered a league-low 1,756 shots at five-on-five last season, while they also allowed a league-low 23.3 scoring chances against per 60 and 8.66 high-danger scoring chances against per 60 at five-on-five.
Dec 11, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Boston Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports)
Joe Sacco, who has been a holdover Julien's staff and now Cassidy's staff, will focus on the penalty kill and the forwards, Montgomery told Conroy. Sacco, who has been with the organization since 2014, has had a variety of focuses in his time with the club, and ran Boston's power play last year.
Sacco, who had a head coaching interview with both the Bruins and Sharks earlier this summer, also got a five-game run as Boston's temporary head coach last year during Cassidy's COVID absence.
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Head coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders reacts as he heads to the locker room following the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Semifinals during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
In the case of Gruden, who joins the Bruins after spending the previous four years in Long Island as an assistant for Barry Trotz, the focuses will come with coaching the defense and running Boston's power play.
It's worth noting that Gruden did not run the Islanders' power play in New York, which is actually probably good news, as New York's power play ranked 22nd in the league during Gruden's time as an Islander assistant.
But what Gruden does to get more out of this defense will be the thing to watch here. The Bruins, in theory, have the pieces in place to have an active defense in terms of generating offense, but it simply hasn't been there enough beyond Charlie McAvoy. Getting consistent offensive production of your Hampus Lindholms, Matt Grzelcyks, and Mike Reillys will be the top task for Gruden.
Prior to his time with the Isles, Gruden coached the Hamilton Bulldogs and Flint Firebirds of the OHL, and won an OHL championship with the Bulldogs in 2018.
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 12: Chris Kelly walks the red carpet prior to their home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre on October 12, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Jana Chytilova/Getty Images)
Another holdover from the Cassidy staff, Chris Kelly, will work on faceoffs and puck protection for forwards, and will handle pre-scouts for Montgomery's staff.
This sounds similar to what Kelly did for the Bruins in his first season as an assistant coach.
This could be a huge season for Kelly on this front, though, with the Bruins expected to integrate more younger forwards this season. Faceoffs and puck protection are often two areas highlighted for any young forward looking to carve out a full-time roster spot. Expect to see lots of extra work at practice between Kelly and players like Trent Frederic, Jack Studnicka, Oskar Steen, and more.
