Bruins head coach Marco Sturm became familiar with the Boston organization in 2005, and he sees some similarities now with the team in 2025.
Sturm first came to the Bruins in a trade that sent Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks. Alongside Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart were also sent to Boston.
During the 2005-06 season, the Bruins had a tough season, finishing with the third worst record in the Eastern Conference. Sturm was one of the top players for Boston that season, finishing with 23 goals and 20 assists through 51 games played.
During the 2024-25 season, the Bruins finished in last place in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. With going through a rebuild, Sturm can compare his first season with Boston to this year.
“I think that the team right now is actually a little bit better,” Sturm told NHL Network’s Billy Jaffe. “We have a better core of players but it’s pretty similar I would say (to 2005), We’ve got work to do, we know that.”
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The new head coach is looking forward to developing players and the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft to take a step towards a more successful team.
“I think for the first time in a long time we’re going to have some draft picks,” Sturm said. “It’s going to take a long time, hopefully I’m still around for that but I think Don (Sweeney) and his staff is going to do a good job at that.”
Featured image via NESN
