The Boston Bruins have fired general manager Peter Chiarelli, president Cam Neely announced Wednesday.
The team will not name an interim general manager at this time.
Bruins chief executive officer Charlie Jacobs and Neely will lead the search for a new GM, a search that begins immediately. Both internal and external candidates will be considered.
“It’s about finding the best candidate. Period,” Jacobs said at a press conference.
Jacobs and Neely met with head coach Claude Julien — also on the hot seat — and informed him that his future with the Bruins will be dependent on the new GM, who will be charged with selecting his coaching staff.
Boston’s current assistant general managers, player personnel staff and coaching staff will remain in place for now.
“We are grateful for Peter’s service to the Bruins organization over the last nine seasons,” Neely said in a release.
“His efforts undoubtedly helped the team achieve great success during his tenure and he helped restore the proud tradition of Boston Bruins hockey. We ultimately feel that this change is necessary in order to ensure sustainable success for the club both in the short term and the long term.”
Chiarelli served as GM for nine seasons, after being named the seventh GM in club history on May 26, 2006.
The 50-year-old native of Nepean, Ont., leaves with a record of 386-233-85. His teams surpassed the 100-point mark on four occasions and qualified for the playoffs seven straight years from 2008 through 2014, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and returning to the final in 2013.
Chiarelli also served as an assistant general manager for Team Canada’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
After failing to qualify for the post-season, he joins Toronto’s Dave Nonis among the off-season GM casualties.
Though former Bruins such as Tyler Seguin and Johnny Boychuk have enjoyed success since leaving Boston, Chiarelli is well-regarded for his management skills. The Leafs may consider him for their open position.
“Peter Chiarelli has done a tremendous job for the Boston Bruins over the last nine seasons. During that time I have come to know, and like him, both professionally and personally. This decision was not an easy one for Cam and Charlie but, ultimately, the right one for this organization,” owner Jeremy Jacobs said in a statement.
“They have my full support in this decision. I know Peter will move on and continue to do great things in the league and I would give him my highest recommendation.”
The Bruins also fired amateur scouts Mike Chiarelli and Denis Leblanc, as well as European head scout Jukka Holtari on Wednesday.
Mike Chiarelli spent seven seasons with the Bruins based out of Ottawa and was responsible for scouting prospects in Ontario. The Quebec-based Leblanc and Finland-based Holtari each had spent eight seasons in the Bruins organization.
