BetOnline released odds on 12 potential candidates to be the Bruins’ next head coach on Wednesday. Here’s the list and odds they came up with:
Nate Leaman: 4/1
Barry Trotz: 5/1
Greg Carvel: 11/2
Pete DeBoer: 11/2
Dave Tippett: 7/1
Jeff Blashill: 7/1
Jim Montgomery: 7/1
Marc Savard: 7/1
Travis Green: 8/1
John Tortorella: 10/1
Guy Boucher: 16/1
Mike Babcock: 16/1
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We highlighted Leaman in our own list of 10 potential candidates on Tuesday:
The Providence College head coach has popped up in NHL rumors before. Boston College and Boston University both reportedly at least reached out to him about their openings this spring. So far, though, the 49-year-old has remained with the Friars for 11 years, compiling a .608 winning percentage. He led PC to a national title in 2015, beating BU in the final. He led the U.S. to World Junior gold in 2021. Former Bruins Noel Acciari and Tim Schaller are among his NHL alums. Boston pick Riley Duran played there this past season. The Bruins know Leaman well, and they might be the one NHL job that would appeal most to him.
Most of BetOnline's list is made up of experienced NHL coaches -- names hockey fans know… and therefore might bet on. Trotz has been widely viewed as the hottest coach on the market since the Islanders surprisingly fired him last month. No surprise to see him listed near the top for any team with an opening right now.
The notable exceptions (guys without NHL head coaching experience) are Leaman, Carvel and Savard. Carvel has done a phenomenal job turning UMass into a college hockey powerhouse, as his Minutemen won the national championship in 2021, made another Frozen Four in 2019, and have won the last two Hockey East tournament titles.
Savard was also on our initial list of 10:
How great of a story would this be? The 44-year-old former Bruin is currently in his first season as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires. All he’s done is lead them to a first-place finish in their conference and a berth in the league final, where they currently have a 2-1 series lead over the Hamilton Bulldogs. Savard previously spent one season as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues in 2019-20. He may not have a ton of experience, but Savard is likely going to be an NHL coach sooner than later.
Two notable omissions from BetOnline’s odds would be Jay Leach and David Quinn. Leach spent four years as head coach of the Providence Bruins before joining the expansion Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach this past season. He was recently anointed by The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa as “the leading candidate.”
Quinn is looking for another NHL opportunity after getting fired by the Rangers in 2021. He has ties to Boston as a Boston University alum who spent five years as head coach of the Terriers and another five as an assistant. He coached both Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk at BU.
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