Marco Sturm plans to change Bruins' systems over the coming days: What can we expect?
Marco Sturm's system might not be the most exciting one that Bruins fans have ever seen, but it could be effective.
Marco Sturm isn't just a familiar face that Don Sweeney brought in as a feel-good story as a former player in the organization. Sturm has done his time climbing the ranks in coaching, culminating in his most recent stint with the Los Angeles Kings' minor league team in Ontario. He has built his reputation on a good rapport with young players and a willingness to foster a positive culture, something he learned from those Boston Bruins teams in the late 2000s.
With a new head coach comes a new myriad of systems for the Bruins. We've seen it over the past decade, as Claude Julien, Bruce Cassidy, and Jim Montgomery all attempted to put their own spin on the roster. The problem was that with most of the core intact through all three of those coaches, it was hard to teach a bunch of old dogs new tricks and get them to buy in. With the rebuild in motion, maybe Sturm's systems and vision will be the one that sticks.
Bruins reporter Fluto Shinzawa had a great deep dive into Sturm's way of thinking on how the team will play under his tutelage. He prefers defenders to step up to maintain tight gaps, with a forward tracking back deep to trap opposing players. The same goes in the defensive zone, with centers playing low to start counter-attacks 200 feet from their own net. It's a strategy he saw Patrice Bergeron employ when he played with the Bruins, and something he still tries to teach the centers that he coaches.
The issue is that Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and Casey Mittelstadt aren't Patrice Bergeron. It's a sound strategy that Sturm believes will help the Bruins beat teams that are better skilled than they are, but I'm unsure of how successful it will be, at least for the 2025-26 season.
The play that Sturm praises in Shinzawa's article is a goal from the 4 Nations Face-Off that took place this past year. Ironically, the player who makes the play in that clip is Brad Marchand, who then counterattacks the other way and scores. While it'd be nice for Sturm if he still had Marchand to make those kinds of plays, it's up to the front office that employed him to find guys who will.
Sturm will use this season to implement the system he is trying to run. It might not reach it's full potential with the roster as currently constructed, but getting it in place as the team's growing list of prospects begin to turn pro would be resetting the clock on the culture that Sturm helped build during his playing days.
It might be a risk for Sweeney to take a chance on a new head coach, but if it works the way Sturm envisions it, the payoff will be massive. No Bruins fans will turn down the possibility of a team full of players who play the game like Bergeron and Marchand. But they need players who are able and willing to do it.
Matt LaFleur SHOWS NFL World the Key Growth Signs in Packers’ Offense—But One Major Area Still Needs Work to Reach Full Potential
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is making it clear: his offense is on the rise. After a rocky start, LaFleur has steadily transformed the Packers' attack, showcasing key signs of growth that have the potential to elevate the team to new heights this season. However, despite the visible progress, LaFleur admits there’s still one crucial area that needs work before they can truly realize their full offensive potential.
"We're seeing the growth we need in certain areas," LaFleur said during a recent press conference. "The chemistry is coming together, but there's still one major piece we need to improve if we want to take this offense to the next level."
The Packers’ offense has shown flashes of brilliance, with Jordan Love finding his rhythm as the starting quarterback and the offensive line providing solid protection. The running game, led by Aaron Jones, has been efficient, and the young wide receivers have started to make their mark. But LaFleur knows that to be a true contender, the offense needs to perform consistently, especially in critical moments.
"We’ve made strides in creating balance and opening up the playbook," LaFleur continued. "But we need to be better at finishing drives, particularly in the red zone. That’s where we’re going to make our biggest leap."
Despite the flashes of talent and the growth in offensive cohesion, the Packers have struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, an area that will need to improve if they want to contend with the league’s best teams. The lack of efficiency in the red zone has been a consistent issue, one that LaFleur and his staff are working tirelessly to resolve.
"We're going to keep pushing, keep refining," LaFleur said. "We know we have the pieces in place. It's about execution. If we can clean up the little things, this offense will be something special."
As the season progresses, LaFleur’s determination to hone in on this weakness could make all the difference. The potential is there—it's just a matter of making those final adjustments to unlock the offense’s full capabilities.
With LaFleur at the helm, the Packers are on the verge of something great. But the road to reaching their full potential will depend on how quickly they can address this critical area and become the complete, high-powered offense they’re capable of.
