Sturm, a former winger for the team, will be the 30th head coach in the franchise's history.

Sturm, 46, expressed his gratitude to the Bruins organization and reflected on his deep connection with the city. "I'm incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins," Sturm said. "I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans."

Sturm's coaching experience spans across different levels and includes a recent seven-year stint with the Los Angeles Kings organization. For the past three seasons, he has been coaching the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, achieving a notable record of 119-80-17. His prior roles included being an assistant coach for the Kings from 2018 to 2022 and coaching the German National Team, where he notably led them to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

During his NHL playing career, Sturm became well-known to Bruins fans after joining the team in 2005 as part of the trade involving Joe Thornton. Over five seasons with Boston, he scored 106 goals and accumulated 193 points. His pivotal moments included forcing a Game 7 in the 2007-08 playoffs with a last-minute victory goal and scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the 2010 Winter Classic.

Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney highlighted Sturm's qualifications that contributed to his selection. "Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion," Sweeney said.

Sweeney also emphasized Sturm's experience and leadership qualities, stating, "His path - playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels - has shaped a well-rounded coach who's earned this opportunity."

Sturm takes over from interim head coach Joe Sacco and aims to revitalize a Bruins team that finished last season with a record of 33-39-10, one of the lowest in the NHL. The appointment ends the Bruins' search for a new head coach, a process that previously included names like Mitch Love, Jay Woodcroft, Sacco, and Jay Leach.

**Marco Sturm’s journey with Boston resumes, but this time from behind the bench, as he leads the Bruins into a new era hoping for a turnaround akin to the one he helped kickstart years ago.**