After the departures of both Jay Pandolfo (Boston University) and Jay Leach (Seattle Kraken) thinned the Bruins’ coaching ranks, the Original Six franchise is turning to a few internal candidates (and some familiar faces) in order to address said vacancies.
The Bruins announced on Friday morning that a pair of stalwarts from the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team will be guiding the club in new capacities — with Chris Kelly joining Bruce Cassidy’s staff as an assistant coach and Adam McQuaid hired as player development coordinator.
Kelly, 40, served as Boston’s player development coordinator for the last two seasons and will be taking Pandolfo’s spot on the Bruins’ bench. Kelly played 14 seasons in the NHL — including six with the Bruins. He will join an assistant coaching corps up in the NHL ranks that includes regulars in Kevin Dean, Joe Sacco and Bob Essensa.
McQuaid, 34, will be taking over Kelly’s old position within the organization and will play an active role in guiding the next wave of Bruins talent. The writing was on the wall that the rugged defenseman was in line to join the organization in some capacity after taking part in Boston’s Development Camp at Warrior Ice Arena last week.
5️⃣4️⃣ & 2️⃣3️⃣ in the 🏠#NHLBruins | #BruinsDevCamp pic.twitter.com/A8tkQDYqDg
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 2, 2021
"I think Adam's been around a little bit last year, and is continuing to try to figure out what makes sense for for Adam," Bruins Director of Player Development Jamie Langenbrunner said of McQuaid's future with the franchise last Monday. "And we're lucky enough to have him available for this week and to come down and get a chance to be around some of our guys. And we'll see where it goes both for Adam and for us.
“I think he'd be a welcome addition to any role. He has a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. And he's a great human being, to boot. "So it's something I'm sure Sweens and the rest of the group is looking at and where everything shuffles as coaching positions get filled and whatnot."
The Bruins also replaced their vacancy down in the AHL ranks, with Ryan Mougenel named the 13th head coach of the Providence Bruins.
Mougenel, 45, has served as an assistant coach for Providence since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Over the last three seasons, since Mougenel joined the organization, the P-Bruins have posted a record of 91-51-13-8 (W-L-OTL-SOL), captured two consecutive Atlantic Division titles, and set a new regular season franchise record with 12 consecutive wins to wrap up the COVID-impacted 2019-20 season.
“I am very honored and excited to assume this position,” Mougenel said in a statement. “This is an incredible opportunity to continue working with an amazingly talented coaching staff and dedicated management group that produce players who represent the rich tradition of Bruins excellence. I am extremely appreciative for the many relationships that have supported me on this journey. We have first-rate fans here in Providence and I am looking forward to another successful season.”
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NHL announces start times for 2021-22 season
A few weeks after the NHL announced its full slate of 82 games for the 2021-22 season, the league announced the start times for all of their games — with no real surprises with the Bruins. In total, the Bruins will have nine matinee games (12:30 or 1:00 p.m. start times) — with the B's annual Black Friday game against the Rangers set for 3:30 p.m.
The full schedule can be found below:
BOSTON BRUINS 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:
*All times are local
*Broadcast information will be announced by the NHL at a later date.
OCTOBER:
Saturday, October 16 vs. Dallas - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 20 @ Philadelphia - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 22 @ Buffalo - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 24 vs. San Jose - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 27 @ Florida - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 28 @ Carolina - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 30 vs. Florida - 7:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER:
Thursday, November 4 vs. Detroit - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 6 @ Toronto - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 9 vs. Ottawa - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 11 vs. Edmonton - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 13 @ New Jersey - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 14 vs. Montreal - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 @ Philadelphia - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 21 vs. Calgary - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 24 @ Buffalo - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 26 vs. N.Y. Rangers - 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 28 vs. Vancouver - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 30 vs. Detroit - 7:00 p.m.
DECEMBER:
Thursday, December 2 @ Nashville - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 4 vs. Tampa Bay - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 8 @ Vancouver - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 9 @ Edmonton - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 11 @ Calgary - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 14 vs. Vegas - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 16 @ N.Y. Islanders - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 18 @ Montreal - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 19 @ Ottawa - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 21 vs. Carolina - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 23 vs. Colorado - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, December 27 vs. Pittsburgh - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29 @ Ottawa - 7:30 p.m.
JANUARY:
Saturday, January 1 vs. Buffalo - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 2 @ Detroit - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 4 vs. New Jersey - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 6 vs. Minnesota - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 8 @ Tampa Bay - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 10 @ Washington - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12 @ Montreal - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 13 vs. Philadelphia - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 15 vs. Nashville - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 18 vs. Carolina - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 20 vs. Washington - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 22 vs. Winnipeg - 3:00 p.m.
Monday, January 24 vs. Anaheim - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 26 @ Colorado - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, January 28 @ Arizona - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 30 @ Dallas - 6:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY:
Tuesday, February 1 vs. Seattle - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 24 @ Seattle - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 26 @ San Jose - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, February 28 @ Los Angeles - 7:30 p.m.
MARCH:
Tuesday, March 1 @ Anaheim - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 3 @ Vegas - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 @ Columbus - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 7 vs. Los Angeles - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 10 vs. Chicago - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 12 vs. Arizona - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 15 @ Chicago - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16 @ Minnesota - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 18 @ Winnipeg - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 21 vs. Montreal - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 22 @ N.Y. Islanders - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 24 vs. Tampa Bay - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 26 vs. N.Y. Islanders - 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 29 vs. Toronto - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 31 vs. New Jersey - 7:00 p.m.
APRIL:
Saturday, April 2 vs. Columbus - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, April 4 @ Columbus - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5 @ Detroit - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8 @ Tampa Bay - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 10 @ Washington - 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12 vs. St. Louis - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 14 vs. Ottawa - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 16 vs. Pittsburgh - 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19 @ St. Louis - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 21 @ Pittsburgh - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 23 vs. N.Y. Rangers - 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 24 @ N.Y. Rangers - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26 vs. Florida - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 28 vs. Buffalo - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 29 @ Toronto - 7:00 p.m.
