The search for the next Bruins head coach and general manager hit another milestone on Monday when applications for the position closed.
The last day for applications was busy as five more rolled in, bringing the total to more than 30.
Bruins president Jeff Pierson said he expects the executive will create a short list of applicants, reducing those in the running to between six and eight. No simple task, said Pierson.
"It certainly at this point is not cut and dried at all."
He agreed the job ahead of him will be difficult in a very good way.
"I don't think we could have expected the (applications) to be this good."
Over the next week the short list will take shape.
"We have to give our executive a chance to look them over. We need the impact of the entire executive to get to a short list of about half a dozen, but with the number of quality applications, that number could be a little higher."
The two things that most prominently come into play when considering the next coach are experience, and a combination of success both coaching and through the GM side.
"You've got to look at all of them from a lot of different angles. There are certainly some, if not all, that are stronger in one area than they are the other. So in that case you've got to take a close look and try to balance that.
"When we get down to the short list, is where we'll really scrutinize the applications, and weigh both the coaching and GMing, just to come out with what we feel is the best candidate."
Pierson said as soon as the short list is complete, they will move immediately into the interview process. For the serious applicants, some from the United States, Pierson said they will need to set up a personal meeting one way or another.
"It's too important. There are a couple of quality applications from the U.S. Because they are from there and they've got that much interest in the position, we expect them to make the commitment to come up here. I think it's important that they do. Whoever is looking at coming up here and making Estevan their home, has to make sure they like the community and what it has to offer their family."
Pierson is now hoping that by May 1 the Bruins will have their new coach. He noted they may not have the coach set by that date, but could also have him here sooner.
Pierson likes the May 1 date because it would give the new coach about a month to get familiar with the Bruins' 50-man protected list and identify some things before the team's cards come out. A thorough grasp of that list will help when it comes to further player recruitment.
