The Boston Bruins have fired head coach Bruce Cassidy, General Manager Don Sweeney said Monday.
Cassidy had held the position since February 2017, when the Bruins let Claude Julian go. Cassidy, 57, was behind Boston’s bench for 399 games and left with a record of 245-108-46.
The Bruins have reached the playoffs every six seasons of Cassidy, including the Stanley Cup Finals in 2019. Boston lost to Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the post-2022 season, ending a seven-game series on May 14.
The search for a new head coach in Boston will begin soon.
“Today I informed Bruce Cassidy that I was being replaced as head coach,” Sweeney said in a statement. “After working with Bruce for 14 years, it was a difficult decision. I would like to thank Bruce for all the work and success at the Bruins organization. His head coach record is impressive for the Bruins and we appreciate both Bruce. Professionally and personally.
“After taking a while to fully digest everything, I felt that our team’s direction this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice.”
Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement that he now has “extreme confidence” in Sweeney to identify the best candidate to help his team reach its full potential.
Cassidy’s exit adds an already uncertain off-season for the Bruins.
Top-pairing defender Charlie McAvoy underwent a left shoulder arthroscopic stabilization procedure in Boston last week and is expected to miss about six months. Matt Grailsick also underwent an open-immobilization procedure on his right shoulder and is expected to be out in five months.
Also last month, the Bruins revealed that Brad Marchand will miss the start of the 2022-23 season after hip surgery.
Captain Patrice Bergeron, who won the record fifth Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward, is an unrestricted free agent and is considering retiring at the age of 36.
