Bruins fire Cassidy as head coach after 6 seasons

The Boston Bruins have fired head coach Bruce Cassidy, the team announced Monday.

Cassidy took over behind Boston's bench during the 2016-17 season and guided the club to the postseason each year. The Bruins went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 and had a 245-108-46 regular-season record under the 57-year-old's guidance.

"After 14 years working with Bruce, this was an extremely difficult decision," general manager Don Sweeney said. "I want to thank and acknowledge Bruce for all his work and success with the Bruins organization. His head coaching record for the Bruins is impressive, and we are appreciative of Bruce both professionally and personally.

"After taking some time to fully digest everything, I felt that the direction of our team for both this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice."

Following the Bruins' elimination at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round of the playoffs in May, team president Cam Neely was noncommittal on Cassidy's future with the franchise, suggesting Boston needs to change some aspects of how the team plays.

The Bruins are facing a critical offseason. On top of a search for a new head coach, captain Patrice Bergeron is unsure if he's retiring. Additionally, stars Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy won't be ready for the start of the 2022-23 season after undergoing surgery.

Barry Trotz is considered to be the most attractive head coaching option on the market.

Five NHL teams - the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Vegas Golden Knights - are seeking a new bench boss, while two clubs - the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks - currently have interim coaches in place.