It is rare when KPD writes a column this harsh.
Keep in mind that Dupont is the only media member in Boston that has access to the Jacobs on a regular basis.
www.bostonglobe.com
It’s two-plus weeks since Cam Neely hinted at a possible change behind the Bruins bench, along with saying the same day a new deal for general manager Don Sweeney was in the works.
It was going to be “the next day or two,” Neely said May 19, that he would “hopefully hammer something out” in terms of a new contract for Sweeney. Now, it appears the ex-power forward in charge is swinging a velvet hammer.
Yep, it has been a slow roll on Causeway Street, other than word May 27 that Brad Marchand underwent surgery on both hips, followed by Thursday’s announcement that bit prospect Joona Koppanen has a new deal for what projects, to be realistic, as his sixth season in AHL Providence. And late Friday, the Bruins announced that Charlie McAvoy will need six months to mend from shoulder surgery, Matt Grzelcyk will need five months, also due to shoulder repair, and fellow defenseman Mike Reilly (ankle surgery) should be healed by training camp.
Oh, and longtime skills coach Kim Brandvold won’t be returning to Bruce Cassidy’s staff — if, in fact, Cassidy and crew are still in place when the puck drops in October.
Brandvold, an ex-UMass Lowell defenseman, left to join Jay Pandolfo’s staff at Boston University — a move the Bruins only acknowledged via their Twitter account on Thursday.
The lack of alacrity in decision-making here is, at best, curious. No new deal yet for Sweeney has been made public. Also, no knowing if Cassidy is still the coach, or if, say, Barry Trotz, the hottest name available among the nomadic coaching brethren, will be calling the shots here in 2022-23. Trotz, arguably, is the only one out there with the profile for the job.
Later he writes
That said, would be it a surprise to see Cassidy get the gate? Not in the least. Change for the sake of change once was a staple here in Harry Sinden’s GM era. Exhibit A: canning Rick Bowness after one season, after he steered the club through three playoff rounds in ‘the spring of 1992. The Bruins didn’t make it into the third round again, by the way, until their successful Cup run of 2011.
The postseason results here have fallen off the last three years more as a result of personnel loss than coaching or playing/tactical approach.
The club that went to the Cup Final in 2019 under Cassidy had netminder Tuukka Rask in his prime, Krug firing from the backline (2-16—18 in 24 games), David Krejci anchoring a second line and star forwards Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each with three fewer years on their odometers. Bergeron, 36, may now call it a day, and Marchand, 34, has a long rehab in front of him.
The talent drain rests solely Sweeney and Neely. The buck literally stops with them. In hopes of plugging the drain, Sweeney last summer spent $74.85 million tying up seven unrestricted free agents, a group that delivered mixed results.
One of those hires, Nick Foligno, probably will be cashed out when the first buyout period begins July 1. Similar to the far pricier David Backes hire of 2016, Foligno was acquired off reputation, said all the right things, had the very best intentions, but didn’t have the legs to get the job done.
Foligno should have been one of the guys — perhaps the only guy, as things played out — to be that mule-like presence in front of the net, willing a key goal over the line to keep the Cup dream alive. Didn’t happen. Final playoff line: 0-1—1 in seven games. Painful.
Three months to go before the new season begins. Lots of questions to answer. And much improvement needed from the corner office.
Keep in mind that Dupont is the only media member in Boston that has access to the Jacobs on a regular basis.
The Bruins’ talent drain rests solely on Don Sweeney and Cam Neely - The Boston Globe
The postseason results have fallen off the last three years more as a result of personnel loss than coaching or playing/tactical approach.
www.bostonglobe.com
It’s two-plus weeks since Cam Neely hinted at a possible change behind the Bruins bench, along with saying the same day a new deal for general manager Don Sweeney was in the works.
It was going to be “the next day or two,” Neely said May 19, that he would “hopefully hammer something out” in terms of a new contract for Sweeney. Now, it appears the ex-power forward in charge is swinging a velvet hammer.
Yep, it has been a slow roll on Causeway Street, other than word May 27 that Brad Marchand underwent surgery on both hips, followed by Thursday’s announcement that bit prospect Joona Koppanen has a new deal for what projects, to be realistic, as his sixth season in AHL Providence. And late Friday, the Bruins announced that Charlie McAvoy will need six months to mend from shoulder surgery, Matt Grzelcyk will need five months, also due to shoulder repair, and fellow defenseman Mike Reilly (ankle surgery) should be healed by training camp.
Oh, and longtime skills coach Kim Brandvold won’t be returning to Bruce Cassidy’s staff — if, in fact, Cassidy and crew are still in place when the puck drops in October.
Brandvold, an ex-UMass Lowell defenseman, left to join Jay Pandolfo’s staff at Boston University — a move the Bruins only acknowledged via their Twitter account on Thursday.
The lack of alacrity in decision-making here is, at best, curious. No new deal yet for Sweeney has been made public. Also, no knowing if Cassidy is still the coach, or if, say, Barry Trotz, the hottest name available among the nomadic coaching brethren, will be calling the shots here in 2022-23. Trotz, arguably, is the only one out there with the profile for the job.
Later he writes
That said, would be it a surprise to see Cassidy get the gate? Not in the least. Change for the sake of change once was a staple here in Harry Sinden’s GM era. Exhibit A: canning Rick Bowness after one season, after he steered the club through three playoff rounds in ‘the spring of 1992. The Bruins didn’t make it into the third round again, by the way, until their successful Cup run of 2011.
The postseason results here have fallen off the last three years more as a result of personnel loss than coaching or playing/tactical approach.
The club that went to the Cup Final in 2019 under Cassidy had netminder Tuukka Rask in his prime, Krug firing from the backline (2-16—18 in 24 games), David Krejci anchoring a second line and star forwards Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each with three fewer years on their odometers. Bergeron, 36, may now call it a day, and Marchand, 34, has a long rehab in front of him.
The talent drain rests solely Sweeney and Neely. The buck literally stops with them. In hopes of plugging the drain, Sweeney last summer spent $74.85 million tying up seven unrestricted free agents, a group that delivered mixed results.
One of those hires, Nick Foligno, probably will be cashed out when the first buyout period begins July 1. Similar to the far pricier David Backes hire of 2016, Foligno was acquired off reputation, said all the right things, had the very best intentions, but didn’t have the legs to get the job done.
Foligno should have been one of the guys — perhaps the only guy, as things played out — to be that mule-like presence in front of the net, willing a key goal over the line to keep the Cup dream alive. Didn’t happen. Final playoff line: 0-1—1 in seven games. Painful.
Three months to go before the new season begins. Lots of questions to answer. And much improvement needed from the corner office.
