The Boston Bruins should now have a full coaching staff for the 2022-23 NHL season after announcing another hire Wednesday.
The Original Six club has added John Gruden as an assistant coach on new head coach Jim Montgomery's staff. Gruden likely will serve as Kevin Dean's replacement. Dean left the Bruins after the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he eventually landed with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Gruden, 52, joins Joe Sacco, Chris Kelly and goaltending coach Bob Essensa on Montgomery's staff. Sacco, Kelly and Essensa were on previous head coach Bruce Cassidy's staff. The Bruins fired Cassidy in early June.
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Gruden spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders. He also was a defenseman for several NHL seasons and played 59 games for the Bruins between the 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 campaigns. Boston drafted him in the eighth round of the 1990 NHL Draft.