Bruins set for coaching search, to consider keeping Joe Sacco full-time

There could be a new face behind the Boston Bruins bench next season.

The Bruins will launch a full coaching search but intend to consider interim Joe Sacco among the final group of candidates, general manager Don Sweeney said at his year-end availability on Wednesday.

“I spoke to Joe (Sacco) at length. He’s aware that we’re going to have a coaching search. He’s aware that he’ll part of the final group of coaches that we get down to because I think he’s deserved that. Joe did a really, really good job,” Sweeney said.

Sacco took over as Bruins coach after Jim Montgomery was fired in November following an 8-9-3 start to the season. Montgomery quickly landed with the St. Louis Blues, leading them to a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Boston was unable to recover from its slow start, ultimately tying for last place in the Eastern Conference with a 33-39-10 record and 76 points.

The Bruins traded key veterans at the trade deadline, sending captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers and defenceman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and endured a 10-game losing streak in the aftermath.

Sacco’s record landed at 25-30-7 in the 56-year-old’s first stint as an NHL head coach.

The Bruins represent one of five current head-coach openings in the NHL along with the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken.

More from Sportsnet

Kraken fire head coach Dan Bylsma

Why Ducks may be more desirable than Rangers for head coaches