The Boston Bruins have made a significant addition to their coaching staff, hiring veteran bench boss Steve Spott as an assistant coach under newly appointed head coach Marco Sturm. For a franchise steeped in tradition and hungry to return to playoff prominence, this move signals a clear intent: to inject experience, structure, and special teams’ expertise into a team that struggled in key areas last season.
Steve Spott, 57, brings with him a coaching resume that spans over three decades and multiple levels of hockey. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Spott began his coaching career in the early 1990s and quickly rose through the junior ranks. His early years included a stint as OCAA Coach of the Year with Seneca College and time with the Markham Waxers before he broke into the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as an assistant coach with the Plymouth Whalers in 1997.
It was in Plymouth that Spott began his long-standing partnership with head coach Pete DeBoer. The duo moved to the Kitchener Rangers in 2001, where they led the team to a Memorial Cup championship in 2003. When DeBoer left for the NHL in 2008, Spott took over as head coach and general manager of the Rangers, guiding the team through several successful seasons and deep playoff runs.
Spott’s ability to develop young talent was on full display in Kitchener. Under his leadership, the Rangers consistently produced NHL-ready players, and his teams were known for their discipline, structure, and offensive creativity. His success in junior hockey earned him a promotion to the professional ranks, where he served as head coach of the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2013–14. That season, he led the Marlies to a 45-25-6 record and a trip to the Western Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Following his success in the AHL, Spott joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach for the 2014–15 season. From there, he reunited with DeBoer in the NHL, serving as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks (2015–19), Vegas Golden Knights (2020–22), and most recently, the Dallas Stars (2022–25). During this decade-long NHL run, Spott helped guide his teams to multiple playoff appearances, including three consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final with Dallas.
One of the most compelling reasons for Spott’s hiring is his track record with the power play. During his three-year tenure with the Dallas Stars, Spott was responsible for running the team’s man-advantage unit. The results speak volumes: Dallas ranked seventh in the NHL in power-play efficiency (23.7%) over that span. In the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, the Stars finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in power-play percentage, showcasing Spott’s ability to design and execute effective special teams strategies.
His power play systems are known for their puck movement, net-front presence, and adaptability. Spott emphasizes quick decision-making and structured zone entries, often tailoring his schemes to the strengths of his personnel. In Dallas, he helped maximize the talents of players like Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson, and Miro Heiskanen, creating a unit that was both dynamic and consistent.
This is particularly relevant for the Bruins, who struggled mightily on the power play last season, finishing 29th in the league with a dismal 15.2% success rate. Sturm made it clear during his introductory press conference that improving the power play was a top priority. With Spott now on board, the Bruins are poised to overhaul their special teams and return to being a threat with the man advantage.
While Spott’s primary focus in recent years has been the power play, his broader experience includes work on the penalty kill and overall defensive systems. His teams have consistently ranked among the league’s best in goals against and special teams efficiency, a testament to his attention to detail and tactical acumen.
Beyond X’s and O’s, Spott has earned a reputation as a passionate teacher and communicator, particularly when it comes to working with young players. His time in junior hockey and the AHL gave him a front-row seat to the developmental process, and he’s carried that mindset into the NHL.
During his tenure with the Kitchener Rangers, Spott helped develop a pipeline of NHL talent, including players like Jeff Skinner, Gabriel Landeskog, Tobias Rieder, Radek Faksa and John Moore. His ability to connect with young athletes, instill confidence, and hold them accountable has made him a respected figure in player development circles.
In Boston, this will be especially valuable. The Bruins are entering a transitional phase, with a mix of aging veterans and emerging prospects. Players like Fabian Lysell, Mason Lohrei, and Matthew Poitras represent the future of the franchise, and having a coach like Spott—who understands the nuances of nurturing young talent—could be a game-changer.
Head coach Marco Sturm echoed this sentiment in the team’s official announcement, calling Spott “a passionate teacher, a strong communicator, and someone who brings great structure and detail to everything he does”. That kind of endorsement speaks volumes about the role Spott is expected to play—not just as a tactician, but as a mentor and culture-builder.
The Bruins’ decision to hire Sturm as head coach marked a shift toward a more modern, player-focused approach. Adding Spott to the mix reinforces that vision. Together, they bring a blend of international experience, NHL pedigree, and developmental expertise that aligns with the organization’s goals.
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