If the Bruins are looking at building around a core anchored by Charlie McAvoy in the coming years, perhaps they’re trying to bring the star defenseman’s collegiate coach along for the ride as well?
According to a report by Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic, David Quinn is scheduled for an in-person interview with the Bruins next week, with the former Rangers bench boss emerging as one of the favorites to replace Bruce Cassidy as Boston’s head coach.
Shinzawa added that former Providence Bruins head coach and current Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jay Leach is also one of the front-runners for the Bruins’ gig, although Leach has yet to interview with Boston.
Quinn, 55, doesn’t have any direct working history with the Bruins organization, but does boast plenty of regional ties and coaching connections thanks to his time as Boston University's head coach from 2013-18.
Among the field of reported candidates for the Bruins’ head-coaching spot, a former NHL coach like Quinn may not exactly knock fans over — due in large part to his so-so showing as the leader of the Rangers from 2018-21.
For all of the talk from Don Sweeney about the need for a new voice behind the bench and the desire to incorporate young talent, one would think the window would be there for Boston to target an up-and-coming, younger assistant like Leach or even a Spencer Carbery for the job — especially if Boston is easing into a bit of a longer retool or outright rebuild.
But Quinn’s coaching style and his knack for encouraging younger players with positive messaging could be appealing for the Bruins, who might be looking to keep an experienced NHL coach in place, albeit one that’s going to give some unproven skaters a bit more rope to learn, fail and hopefully thrive at hockey’s highest level.
The Cranston, Rhode Island native only lasted three seasons in New York for a rebuilding Rangers club (96-87-25 record) but he has remained active around pro-hockey circles — coaching Team USA in the 2022 Olympics and the 2022 World Championships.
Of course, Quinn already has a strong rapport with a few B’s players after coaching both McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk at BU (100-59-20 record on Comm. Ave, including a National Championship game appearance in 2015). During his recent circuit with Team USA, Quinn coached Marc McLaughlin at the 2022 Olympics and Jeremy Swayman at the World Championships.
McAvoy, like most BU alums, still holds Quinn in pretty high esteem — and the two are still pretty close.
While it seems like a number of coaching gigs across the NHL are already getting filled (Bruce Cassidy to Vegas on Tuesday, and now John Tortorella to Philly on Friday), it seems like the Bruins are going to take their time and do some due diligence when it comes to their coaching search.
After all, be it younger, unproven talents like Leach/Carbery, an NHL coach looking for a second chance in Quinn and potentially collegiate options like Nate Leaman — the Bruins can go in a LOT of different directions with who they want to lead this roster in the coming years.