Management Don Sweeney after Trade Deadline “I haven’t really given much thought to the Patrice Factor….” - 3/21/22

[Coach Parker]

I'll say this much. Tampa is currently +800 to win it all, and Boston is +2000. One point separates them in the standings. If I had to pick $100 to place on a fun futures bet for the playoffs, I'm taking the team paying $2000 there given the actual gap in the standings.

I did. I got them at 2100 so I put 100 down.

 

[bbfan419]

Honestly, as much as everyone loved Cam the player, he's had zero credentials to be making any sort of business decisions. If he was a figure head as President, great, but it seems even he and Sweeney have butted heads over the years and it's lead to this compromised version of either man's vision.

Agree, Neely was one of my all-time fav players, but he should be in some sort of role that does not make decisions on trades/FA/Drafting

 

[BB88]

Ok, different take/question here.

The reality is that in a 32 team league, half of the clubs miss the playoffs.

This is pure speculation, but could there be a mandate from above to make every effort to keep the team competitive and in the playoffs year after year?

Meaning, don’t overextend to try and win a Cup in the short term if it means the risk of bottoming out and becoming the Blackhawks 2-3 seasons from now.

If they don’t rebuild the offense that’s where they’ll be.

Just look at the age of Bergeron, Marchand and Hall and then what’s in the prospect pool

 

[Blowfish]

My guess....Bergeron and Krejci are with the Bruins come Fall 2022.

 

[Kegs]

My guess....Bergeron and Krejci are with the Bruins come Fall 2022.

That would be fantastic. One last hard run. This defence with those two and centre.

 

[RHR37]

I've been thinking about our center issue for at least five years. This team has not developed a good center since Bergeron and Krejci. That means they haven't drafted a genuinely good impact center since 2004.* You go through the list and Sobotka might be the only center you feel good about. But it's not like he ever had top 6 potential. It's a f***ing disaster.

*They played Seguin at wing and never developed him at center.

I heard there was a few good centers still available in 2015.

 

[Gordoff]

I wish Don would pick a lane.

He did, the median strip. It's safe there.

 

[bp14]

My guess....Bergeron and Krejci are with the Bruins come Fall 2022.

As nice as that sounds (albeit unlikely), I would worry it would encourage Sweeney to just punt solving his center problem another year.

This team seems 1-2 years from needing a serious retool, and he has few assets to make that happen because he’s been using his futures to make half-step improvements and to pay other teams to take the shitty UFAs he’s been overpaying every summer.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

That would be fantastic. One last hard run. This defence with those two and centre.

I mean we've been doing our "last run" every season since 2019.

Another "last run" probably means even less at this point.

Bruins put together a better string of games in 2019 SCF, we likely aren't looking at these lackluster attempts the past 2 seasons and what could very likely happen this season.

If that's Sweeney's answer for figuring out the long term C solution is to plug in a 36 and 37 year old C both on the downswing of their careers, then I really don't know what to say.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

As nice as that sounds (albeit unlikely), I would worry it would encourage Sweeney to just punt solving his center problem another year.

This team seems 1-2 years from needing a serious retool, and he has few assets to make that happen because he’s been using his futures to make half-step improvements and to pay other teams to take the shitty UFAs he’s been overpaying every summer.

This absolutely cannot happen.

The fact that they let the possibility of Krejci linger even to midway this season is absurd. Take a hold of the reigns and solve the problem. Stop putting super glue on it. It's not gonna be whole again.

Using Krejci here is sad for both the team and the legacy of Krejci.

 

[Gordoff]

My question to anyone making a big deal out of this: have you not been listening to this guy for past seven years? He rarely says anything of real substance in these things. He is a master of corporate-political speech who always maintains plausible deniability. Listen to him for ten minutes and see if he tells you anything meaningul or something you didn't already know or couldn't figure out for yourself. The guy doesn't give much away and I know some of our insiders here have commented on how tight-lipped the org is about most everything.

I tried listening to him, I really did but I can't listen to bullshit, doubletalk, lack of accountability, and NO plan for Bergerons spot, same as no plan for DK. He's plugging holes. As others have said, other GMs (Tampa, Florida and
Dollar Bill Guerin) Got their men. Sweeney, needed 4 upgrades and got 1.5. We'll see what happens in the playoffs
but I'm not liking this corporate bullshit doubletalk mentality. If you're a STH though, you can look in the mirror and think about JJ and his empire.

 

[BMC]

If the Bruins get knocked out early again 1st or 2nd rd, I think there will be a house cleaning, Bruce, Donny and maybe even Cam gone.

I certainly hope you are right.

 

[Dr Hook]

I tried listening to him, I really did but I can't listen to bullshit, doubletalk, lack of accountability, and NO plan for Bergerons spot, same as no plan for DK. He's plugging holes. As others have said, other GMs (Tampa, Florida and
Dollar Bill Guerin) Got their men. Sweeney, needed 4 upgrades and got 1.5. We'll see what happens in the playoffs
but I'm not liking this corporate bullshit doubletalk mentality. If you're a STH though, you can look in the mirror and think about JJ and his empire.

You're right it is bullshit and doubletalk, which is why you shouldn't read anything into it. He never says anything worth listening to unless you are a reporter looking for a quote or a soundbite. No plan? Maybe, maybe not, but you'll never know it from listening to one of his pressers.

 

[Alicat]

I’m only speaking to his comment about Bergeron.

He is respecting Bergeron’s wish to wait until the end of the season to discuss a new contract. He has to be out of sight out of mind until then.

 

[World of Wardlow]

Never liked Cam Neely as president, etc.

Not sure who i'd want to face in the first round: Florida, Carolina or Tampa Bay

 

[The National]

 

[Dr Hook]

They show Lindholm scoring goals and Brown punching people

 

[The National]

The show Lindholm scoring goals and Brown punching people

I like that they showed Mcquaid right before Brown punching faces.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

The next person the Bruins hire.

Well said.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

My question to anyone making a big deal out of this: have you not been listening to this guy for past seven years? He rarely says anything of real substance in these things. He is a master of corporate-political speech who always maintains plausible deniability. Listen to him for ten minutes and see if he tells you anything meaningul or something you didn't already know or couldn't figure out for yourself. The guy doesn't give much away and I know some of our insiders here have commented on how tight-lipped the org is about most everything.

100%. This is why as I've said before I've stopped listening to his pressers. He literally says nothing, every time, and that doesn't appear to have changed since I stopped watching them. Which doesn't translate into 'he has nothing to say because he has no idea what's going on', rather it's just as you said - he chooses not to tell the media anything.

Here's the thing I wonder with that - Sweeney not wishing to give much away to the press is all well and good, but what about the fans, who in the end are the actual audience? This is where I need some local guidance. In Australia's major sports, there's still a sense in which the paying members of a team 'own' the club and have a right to know what management are doing, what their plans are and the rationale behind particular decisions and courses of action. In reality there's still a lot than is hidden from the fans, but there is at least some sense in which team managers are accountable to the supporters. But is it the same in America? Does Sweeney have any sort of obligation to keep the fans and STHs informed on what's going on inside the Bruins, or does he have every right to run a closed shop and keep them largely in the dark?

 

[chizzler]

I don’t dont know why every time he speaks, people lose their mind. Do people want an essay on his plans? Wtf! No GM spills their beans man. Don’t believe everything you hear or read. You guys really think he’s not thinking about Bergeron or has a n agreement in place to get a decision? Gullible people.

 

[Dr Hook]

100%. This is why as I've said before I've stopped listening to his pressers. He literally says nothing, every time, and that doesn't appear to have changed since I stopped watching them. Which doesn't translate into 'he has nothing to say because he has no idea what's going on', rather it's just as you said - he chooses not to tell the media anything.

Here's the thing I wonder with that - Sweeney not wishing to give much away to the press is all well and good, but what about the fans, who in the end are the actual audience? This is where I need some local guidance. In Australia's major sports, there's still a sense in which the paying members of a team 'own' the club and have a right to know what management are doing, what their plans are and the rationale behind particular decisions and courses of action. In reality there's still a lot than is hidden from the fans, but there is at least some sense in which team managers are accountable to the supporters. But is it the same in America? Does Sweeney have any sort of obligation to keep the fans and STHs informed on what's going on inside the Bruins, or does he have every right to run a closed shop and keep them largely in the dark?

No, not the same. I know what you are talking about, and it's the English footie club model where the supporters often have a voice and a stake in the club. Pro teams here generally do not operate like that. I am sure there are exceptions, but the Sweeney way seems to me to be the most common. Give bland statements, take a few softball questions from gathered media, and consider it a job done. It's much more the corporate PR model.

 

[Gordoff]

I don’t dont know why every time he speaks, people lose their mind. Do people want an essay on his plans? Wtf! No GM spills their beans man. Don’t believe everything you hear or read. You guys really think he’s not thinking about Bergeron or has a n agreement in place to get a decision? Gullible people.

He had no plan when Krejci left (and the writing was on the wall). The Bruins front office seemed to be the only ones surprised by it. Caught with their pants down around their ankles, or were they so distrusting of Davids words that they thought "he'll be back." FFS, they waited until TDL day to announce that he isn't coming back this year. Never mind the fact that they'd have to pull some shenanigans that they don't seem particularly adept at to get him through waivers if he did.
Regarding not just Bergeron but the center position in general he has shown no plan. Nobody asked him anything personal or professional about Bergeron's plans (that I heard) but some want to make it a rallying point that he's protecting him. Sure, whatever.

 

[World of Wardlow]

Yeah, I'm surprised no one has asked Sweeney about Bergeron, or his plan for Bruins Centers for the future

 

[rocketdan9]

How does this season team compare to 2019 Bruins team? (In general)