Bruins fire coach Bruce Cassidy after six seasons

The Boston Bruins fired coach Bruce Cassidy on Monday, despite reaching the postseason in all six years of his tenure.

"Today I informed Bruce Cassidy that I was making a head coaching change," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement. "After 14 years working with Bruce, this was an extremely difficult decision. I want to thank and acknowledge Bruce for all his work and success with the Bruins organization. His head coaching record for the Bruins is impressive, and we are appreciative of Bruce both professionally and personally.

"After taking some time to fully digest everything, I felt that the direction of our team for both this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice."

Cassidy, 57, became the Bruins' interim head coach in Feb. 2017 after Claude Julien was fired. Boston finished that season 18-8-1 and Cassidy was promoted to the team's full-time head coach in April.

In his second full season as coach, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final, but lost in seven games against the St. Louis Blues. While Boston made the playoffs in each of Cassidy's other five seasons at the helm, the team lost in the second round three times and the first round twice. This season, the Bruins lost in seven games against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

Cassidy led the Bruins to a 245-108-46 record in regular season games and a 36-37 record in the postseason.