Back on July 4, 2023, Bruins Assistant Coach John Gruden left the organization to take on the Head Coaching job of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Since then, we’ve been waiting to see if Head Coach Jim Montgomery would promote someone from within the organization or look outside to fill the void left by Gruden’s departure.
That question was answered today as the team has announced that John McLean will move from a skating and skills consultant’s role to Montgomery’s coaching staff.
Gruden’s primary responsibilities in Boston included coaching the defensemen and running the powerplay. While many of the Bruins blueliners had career years under his direction, the powerplay had its ups and downs.
In an interview with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, Montgomery said Joe Sacco will take over the defence. “He runs the PK already and does a lot of our D-zone coverage. That’s an easy one for him,” said Montgomery. Chris Kelly will take over the powerplay. “I think he’s really excited about it,” he said. With Montgomery preferring a three-man bench, the new hire will be a second eye-in-the-sky with goalie coach Bob Essensa. The new coach will also focus on in-season development work.
Word is that Montgomery had spoken with Adam McQuaid, currently the Bruins Player Development Coordinator and Ryan Mougenel, currently Head Coach of the Providence Bruins about the position.
McLean, a defenceman during his playing days, spent 4 years with Boston College from 1983-84 season to 1986-87 season – the last one as captain. He spent the next season split between the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL and the Milwaukee Admirals of the defunct IHL. The 1988-89 season would be his final season, playing in just 6 games with the Maine Mariners of the AHL.
McLean really got into coaching in the 1992-93 season as an assistant with Boston College. After just one season at BC, he moved on to spend the next three seasons as an assistant with Merrimack College. During the 2007-08 season, McLean moved on to coach US High School Prep Hockey. He spent the next 7 years with Malden Catholic High – the last three as head coach.
During the 2019-20 season, McLean coached the Middlesex Islanders at the Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament. The following season he would split his time with the Islanders and as an assistant with P.A.L. (Pride in Athletics for Life) Junior Islanders.
During the 2022-23 season, McLean returned to coaching US High School Prep Hockey, taking on the role of head coach. The Bruins recognized McLean’s abilities with younger players in furthering their development and also brought him in as a skills and skating coach.
With a number of young Bruins prospects on the cusp of the NHL, this is a good move by the Bruins especially since Montgomery has previously stated that the role will include in season development work.
As for the strategic part as a second set of eyes up high: two sets of eyes are better than one.
Bruins Add to Scouting Department
In addition to naming McLean an assistant coach, the Bruins also added to their European scouting department by hiring former Bruins Milan Jurcina. After spending 7 seasons in the NHL, he spent 2 seasons in Liiga (Finland), 2 in the KHL, 4 in the DEL (Germany) and 5 in Czechia.
To say Jurcina is familiar with European Leagues may be an understatement.
With P.J. Axelsson as the European Scouting Coordinator and predominantly covering Sweden along with Svenake Svensson and Victor Nybladh, Arseniy Bonderev covering Russia, Teemu Numminen covering Finland, it’s safe to assume Jurcina will spend most of his time in Slovakia and Czechia.
However, Jurcina has no prior experience as a scout and will be learning on-the-go under Axelsson.
The Bruins also added a Professional Scout in Derek MacKinnon.
MacKinnon spent 9 seasons as a pro scout with the Phoenix Coyotes and the Calgary Flames. He was promoted to Director of Player Personnel by the Flames and 6 seasons in that position. When Brad Treliving left the Coyotes organization to take on the Flames GM position, he Brought MacKinnon with him. When Treliving left the Flames to become GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flames promoted Craig Conroy to the GM position and he wanted to bring in his own people, thus opening the door for MacKinnon to move on.
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