The candidates

An early, short list of potential successors to fired Bruins coach Dave Lewis.

SCOTT GORDON

As a coach of the AHL's Providence Bruins the past seven seasons (head coach the last four), he's not only had success, but is familiar with many of the parent club's younger players. The former Boston College goaltender, 44, would be undertaking his first NHL job.

CLAUDE JULIEN

Despite a 47-24-8 record and first-place standing in the Atlantic Division with a week to go in the regular season, he was canned by the New Jersey Devils so general manager Lou Lamoriello could again go behind the bench for the playoffs. The 47-year-old previously coached the Montreal Canadiens for three seasons, compiling a 72-71-16 record.

RANDY CUNNEYWORTH

A hard-nosed defenseman for the Sabres and Penguins, the 46-year-old has been coach of the Rochester Americans in the AHL since 2000-01 after one season as a player/assistant coach.

MIKE MILBURY

The man who last coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup finals recently resigned his post as vice president of the Islanders, for whom he also served as general manager and coach at times during his 12-year career with the club. At 55 (tomorrow), he's ready for the next phase of his career, and a return to coaching for the Massachusetts native would not be out of the question.

TED DONATO

If the club is looking for a former Bruin, it might take a look at the current Harvard coach, 38, who got the most out of his talent in a 13-year NHL career and, like Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, is a former Crimson player.

JOHN PADDOCK

If Chiarelli wants to try a familiar face from his Ottawa days, he could go with Paddock, 53, who has been in the Senators organization for five seasons, most recently as an assistant coach. He previously coached Winnipeg/Phoenix from 1991-95, compiling 106-138-47 mark.