Providence assistant search

After interviewing three candidates, the Bruins are in the process of hiring an assistant for Rob Murray in Providence.

Because Murray, a former center, oversaw the defense while serving as Scott Gordon's right-hand man, the Bruins might consider a coach with a history of working with blue-liners. Also, because this is Murray's first crack at serving as a head coach, the Bruins would prefer an assistant with a coaching pedigree. Murray, when hired by former GM Mike O'Connell on Aug. 22, 2003, never had been a coach before.

"I know that there's emphasis on somebody that has experience," Murray said. "This is my first foray into head coaching, so they'd like to have somebody with experience. Maybe even head coaching experience. I said to [director of hockey operations and player development] Donny [Sweeney] that it would be hypocritical of me to want that guy to be a defenseman. I wasn't and I stepped in and ran the defense for five years. But in a perfect world, they'd like a guy with experience as a defenseman to be the assistant coach and be in charge of the D."

The Bruins are expected to make the hire this week.

ANALYSIS: With Providence projected to have a young team in 2008-09, the Bruins will need someone who works well with kids and can help guide Murray in his first year as a head coach. It would also help the organization to hire a coach with knowledge of the ECHL. One of Gordon's strengths was tapping the East Coast League for fill-in guys when his players were recalled or injured. And history shows that promotions and injuries are a given.