Mailbag: Grading Marco Sturm through first month as head coach

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Thanks for the question, James!

Marco Sturm has been a strong hire in my opinion.

He has great communication skills, is a straight shooter, can relate to players having only retired from the NHL fifteen years ago, and understands the pressures, demands, and expectations of playing in Boston.

He doesn't ask anything more of players than what he had once done himself.

Strum ran an intense, purposeful and demanding training camp - a stark contrast to last season - that likely factored into the Bruins getting off to a 3-0-0 start.

Even throughout the Bruins six game, regulation, losing streak that directly ensued - they were in most of those games to the end, and showed resiliency in moments wherein last year they would have folded.

Boston snapped the losing streak in an impressive win against Colorado, but then followed that up with their worst performance of the season in a 7-2 loss against the Senators in Ottawa - a game all too reminiscent of last year.

Following that loss, Hampus Lindholm returned to the lineup, Mason Lohrei was scratched, and Charlie McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov were put together as a pair.

Early results weren't present in the very next game at home against the New York Islanders and the Bruins found themselves down 2-0 after the 1st period with their season seemingly in the balance - not even through the month of October.

The teams play wasn't good enough and with the rubber meeting the road, Marco Sturm felt the need to speak up in a way that he previously hadn't.

The Bruins stormed back with 5 unanswered goals to defeat the Islanders 5-2.

Since then they've won five consecutive games against the Sabres, Hurricanes, Islanders again, and the Senators in a bit of a full circle, symbolic win.

From an x's and o's perspective, Sturm's hybrid defensive structure that includes both man-on-man, and zone coverage has had growing pains - but that was to be expected.

From an interpersonal perspective, Sturm has been excellent.

He holds players accountable and isn't afraid to scratch someone when necessary.

He doesn't do so in an aimless, insensitive way - but in a timely, and effective way.

When a players effort, and or details slip - Sturm's not shy to challenge them, teach them a lesson and then see how they respond.

Casey Mittelstadt is an example of a higher end roster player being scratched and then responding the right way.

Mason Lohrei is the latest example having now been scratched for five straight games - all Boston wins - and we'll see how he responds.

Sturm also has a great feel for the game and his bench and has also rewarded players - even young ones - with ice time when they've earned it.

Marat Khusnutdinov has now played a handful of games on a line with David Pastrnak, and Fraser Minten was elevated to Pastrnak's line down a goal late in the 3rd period against the Islanders and helped Boston tie the game.

Both of those forwards have also been trusted in multiple overtime sessions.

Sturm isn't a bad cop, or a good cop, he's simply an honest cop who expects consistent effort, and execution above all else - as he should.

He has no agenda to hold back younger players, nor does he show favoritism to older players - he expects everyone to be held accountable and to the standards of what it means to be NHL player, and a Boston Bruin.

If a player's presence in the lineup gives the team their best chance to win on a given night, they'll play - plain and simple.

And that's all a player could ask for in a coach.

So yes it's early, but so far Marco Sturm gets a B+ from me.

I don't think Sturm's made any major line up, or x's and o's mistakes - but despite coaching Boston to a 9-7-0 record, being on a five game win streak and winners in six of their last seven games - a six game regulation losing streak, and losing in seven of eight games at one point did happen, can't be ignored, and has to be taken into account.

But one thing is for sure and that is that Sturm appears to be the right man for the job.