Caps' assistant coach Mitch Love overlooked for the Bruins' head coaching job

The announcement was made just this morning by the Boston Bruins, beginning with, 'Marco's coming home'. Incidentally, this was the last of NHL head coaching jobs available, for which Mitch Love had also interviewed, including Pittsburgh and Seattle.

Before joining the Kings' organization, Marco was head coach and GM for his native Germany from 2015-2018. He led Germany to a Silver medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics, the first German team to medal since 1976.

Given Mitch Love's strength and experience as a defensive specialist, it sounds like he would have fit the bill nicely as Boston's bench boss. It's difficult to say why one candidate is hired and the other overlooked, even when he's proven his competency behind the bench; for now, it's unclear why Mitch was passed-by.

Sturm has never been a head coach at the NHL level, though he spent the past three seasons as the bench boss of the AHL's Ontario Reign, the L.A. Kings' affiliate, whom he led to the playoffs three years in a row. He also served as assistant coach with the Kings from 2018-2022.

Mitch Love has won two AHL Coach of the Year awards, and has won a gold and silver medal while behind the bench of the Canada World Juniors, in addition to serving as a head coach in the WHL. Though he was not hired as an NHL head coach this summer, his chance will soon come, given his impressive coaching resume'.

When compared to Marco Sturm's experience and abilities as a head coach, Mitch Love is closely matched; he is a proven communicator and defensive strategist. We have no doubt heard the last of Mitch Love interviewing for NHL head coaching jobs.