Hockey

"Be on the Lookout": Bruins Rumored to Make a Big Move—But What’s Next?

Published: Nov 12, 2024, 10:33 AM
5 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2025, 7:50 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Head coach Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins

Head coach Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Based on chatter coming out of Toronto at the Hall of Fame inductions, where some NHL general managers were ahead of the NHL GM meetings, there is a common belief that the Boston Bruins could be on the verge of a ‘big’ change.

“Just be on the lookout. People are starting to leak,” a well-placed, NHL executive replied to RG when asked about the Bruins on Sunday.

The big question now seems to have shifted from “Will the Bruins make a shake-up move" to “When and What will that move be?”

Will that mean firing head coach Jim Montgomery, who is not even two full seasons removed from winning the 2023 Jack Adams Award? Or could it mean a trade?

Looking to Shake Things Up

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was recently on the road scouting for Hockey Canada and the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff, which will be played in Montreal and Boston this coming February. However, he also multi-tasked as he scouted potential solutions for the Bruins.

“He is looking for help, make no mistake about it,” the aforementioned NHL executive source said of the Bruins GM.

“It’s no secret that he wants a scoring winger for the top-6, but don’t be surprised if he snags another top-6 center. Are we talking about a legit No. 1 center? Probably not because those are hard to find on the trade market, but maybe a 1B like they already have in Lindholm.”

Numerous sources had confirmed to RG late last week that one team Sweeney was talking to was the Columbus Blue Jackets, with one NHL executive saying that the Blue Jackets had an interest in Bruins veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo. With the Blue Jackets claiming former Boston University defenseman Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Sunday, those talks are likely shelved for now.

However, another NHL source claimed that the Bruins were also talking to the Utah Hockey Club and the Anaheim Ducks. With regards to the latter, one player who is once again looking like he may be on the way out in Anaheim is forward Trevor Zegras, who is off to a putrid start (1g, 2a, 14 games), and just can’t seem to buy into the aggressive forecheck and two-way system that Ducks head coach Greg Cronin wants him to play in. As I tweeted on Sunday, one NHL scout sarcastically asked me this on Sunday:

A Coaching Change?

Zegras is still playing in the NHL, but there seems to be a good chance that it won’t be for the Ducks much longer. Could Sweeney try to bring the former Boston University star back to Boston?

Or does Sweeney decide to make a major change internally and specifically behind the bench?

The Bruins were out-shot 12-0 in the third period and blew another third period lead en route to a 3-2 overtime loss to former Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. That left the Bruins at 7-7-2 as they embark on a two-game road trip to play the St. Louis Blues this week. Following the game, Montgomery was at a complete loss for words and unable to explain what had happened to the roster he and the Bruins team brass felt could compete for the 2025 Stanley Cup.

“It’s up to you guys to figure that out, come up with the reason,” a clearly frustrated and baffled Montgomery said in his shortest postgame press conference yet. “We just weren’t good enough. You guys can write, but what you think is the malaise on the team, and what’s going on? We’re just not playing well enough.”

Montgomery said he doesn’t think his message has gone stale, but answers like that are never a good sign for a head coach. The sense is Sweeney won’t wait much longer to either make a coaching change or shake up the team via a trade.

For a full breakdown of the latest promotions, check out our sportsbook reviews.

NHL Reporter
James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist with 25 years of experience covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL, including two decades on the Boston Bruins beat. His work has appeared on NHL.com, NESN, ESPN Boston and more, and he’s made regular TV and radio appearances on NESN, ESPN, TSN and SiriusXM. A familiar face in the hockey world, Murphy has covered multiple Stanley Cup Finals, NHL drafts and playoffs, and now co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire, interviewing top NHL executives, coaches and players. He joined RG in 2024 after stints with Boston Hockey Now and LiveBarn.
Interests:
NHL

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.