Rumor Roundup: Last on vacant posts at Pittsburgh, Boston, Seattle

While the two third round series near a fence, three teams that have missed the Stanley Cup qualifiers are still looking for a new bench boss to bring them to importance.

In the last episode of 32 thoughts: the podcastElliotte Friedman of Sportsnet provided her latest information on the representation of the search for coaches for the three teams.

The Penguins are in an unknown place after agreeing to separate from the long-standing boss of the Mike Sullivan bench, who had trained the team since the start of the 2015-2016 season.

According to Friedman, the Penguins are just starting their visits in person.

As for which is on this list, Friedman had some names that he thinks that the Penguins are considering.

“Mitch Love, I mentioned earlier this week, I think he was going to Pittsburgh this week,” said Friedman. “I think that DJ Smith, I think Jay Woodcroft … I always admit that I could miss names, that there are things that I do not see. But I think these are three of Pittsburgh finalists.”

LOVE, 40, has spent the last two seasons under head coach Spencer Carbery with Washington’s capital, working mainly with the defenders and helping the team at a seeded from the Eastern Conference.

Smith, 48, was a former assistant coach of Toronto Maple Leafs before being hired as head coach of Ottawa Senators before the 2019-20 season. He was dismissed by Ottawa Midway until 2023-24 and is currently assistant coach of the Kings of Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Woodcroft was the last behind the bench as EDMONTON’s Oilers. He was dismissed at the start of his third season with Edmonton after the team took a 3-9-1 departure in 2023-24.

After having made the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons from 2007 to 22, including three Stanley cuts, the Penguins have now missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

Boston is looking for a new head coach after dropping Jim Montgomery halfway from the 2024-25 season.

Montgomery was replaced by Joe Sacco on a provisional basis.

According to Friedman, he thinks there are two serious contenders for the work of Bruins.

“There were duel reports on Monday. There was a report that Woodcroft negotiated a contract or compensation with Boston, and there was another report that (Marco) Sturm was going to be the head coach,” said Friedman. “I followed the Sturm train early … Everything I can tell you, when we record this Tuesday evening / Wednesday morning, I am under the impression that Sturm is always supposed to visit Boston.”

Whether this visit is another interview or to receive the post, Friedman could not say it with certainty. But he thinks that Sturm is still “very well in” and has another visit aligned with the Bruins.

Friedman also believes that Woodcroft is a “legitimate competitor for the position”, but could not confirm the report that the former head coach of the Oilers was in Boston to negotiate a contract.

Germany Sturm, 46, has led the reign – the AHL subsidiary of the Los Angeles Kings – in the last three seasons. He also trained Germany to a male hockey silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games.

As a player, Sturm collected 438 points in 938 career games with the San Jose Sharks, Bruins, Kings, Canucks (six games), Capitals and Florida Panthers.

Friedman would not completely exclude two names which are already in the organization.

“I heard Jay Leach’s name in it, and I heard the name of Joe Sacco in it,” said Friedman. “While we register this, I did not receive an indication, one of them was informed that they were released.”

Leach, 45, was assistant coach of Bruins during the 2024-25 season.

In the northwest of the Pacific, the Kraken are back in the search for coaches for a second consecutive season after shooting the head coach Dan Bylsma after only one year at the helm.

According to Friedman, he thinks that Seattle’s work will be summed up with two names.

“No change from the last pod in which I mentioned (Lane) Lambert, (David) Quinn,” said Friedman. “I think that Sturm and (Mitch) Love were there too, but I don’t know if they were the most likely candidates there because they also had other options, and I wanted to see how these situations are going.”

Lambert, 60, was assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25. He was previously head coach of the New York Icelanders before the team replaced him with Patrick Roy halfway through his second season in 2023-24.

Quinn, 58, was assistant to Pittsburgh this season after three seasons as a head coach of the San Jose Sharks.