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The Bruins announced today that in addition to the departure of Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis will also be leaving the team - and Bruce "Butch" Cassidy and Jay Pandolfo will be taking spots on the Bruins' coaching staff.
From the press release:
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, May 24, that the Bruins have hired Bruce Cassidy and Jay Pandolfo as assistant coaches. Cassidy and Pandolfo will join Joe Sacco and Bob Essensa on Head Coach Claude Julien’s coaching staff. In addition to the previously announced departure of former assistant coach Doug Houda, Sweeney announced that Doug Jarvis will not return to the Bruins for the 2016-17 season.
Sweeney also announced that the club has hired Paul Whissel as the Bruins Director of Sports Performance and Rehab.
Cassidy has been with the P-Bruins for eight years: five as head coach, and three as assistant coach before that. After inheriting a struggling team in his first season as head coach, he has brought the team to the playoffs every year since, including one year when the team amassed the highest points total in the AHL. Previously, he coached the Washington Capitals in the NHL for two years before the 2004 lockout; that team was awful and he was fired.
Jay Pandolfo has also been working in Providence in player development for two years.
It remains to be seen who will be brought in to coach the P-Bruins, but Cassidy's proven track record coaching players at the AHL level makes this a very interesting, exciting hire for Boston.