Management Don Sweeney

[PlayMakers]

If you lose all hope let me know and I'll tell you where the rest of us meet every week.

But seriously, is it near a bridge?

 

[PlayMakers]

This can't be ****ing serious, can it?

I don't know, I had this idea that maybe he hasn't spoken to all his free agents and isn't sure what he's going to do with them, so he put this out there to keep the door open as a last resort should his other more inspired plans fail.

Then I remembered the 5 Stages of Grief and wondered if that train of thought was just my way of processing denial.

 

[member 96824]

PM me the details on meeting time and location please

It's at the Fours on Canal street. We weep about what could have been into a Bobby Orr sandwich and Bud Light. After that we throw empty beer bottles at the Garden and spray paint "clode" on abandoned train cars

 

[Era of Sanity]

Well you know, you don't want to mess with a great thing. And we've got a team that almost didn't flatline their way out of a playoff spot two years in a row. Sweeney would be crazy to disrupt that.

Yup. Only make significant changes when you are successful. Management 101.

 

[ODAAT]

It's at the Fours on Canal street. We weep about what could have been into a Bobby Orr sandwich and Bud Light. After that we throw empty beer bottles at the Garden and spray paint "clode" on abandoned train cars

oh nice, I know it well, these days, I`m the DD so you fans can bend the elbows and I`ll drive everyone home

 

[Ice Nine]

Sweeney has a great opportunity here to re-shape this team.

I didn't like the Lucic or Hamilton (or Smith) trades, but those moves have created a ton of cap space, and he some great pieces in place in guys like Bergeron, Rask, Marchand, Pastrnak, Krug...

He's earned that space and the opportunity he has in front of him. There are UFA's out there like Stamkos and Yandle, a boatload of high-end defensemen available because of the expansion draft.

I'm hoping for the best but... after hearing today that he's interested in bringing back Kelly and Liles my hope is waining. What a disappointment it will be if he just brings back the same old crew.

Is that reported anywhere?

 

[Ice Nine]

Sweeney has a great opportunity here to re-shape this team.

I didn't like the Lucic or Hamilton (or Smith) trades, but those moves have created a ton of cap space, and he some great pieces in place in guys like Bergeron, Rask, Marchand, Pastrnak, Krug...

He's earned that space and the opportunity he has in front of him. There are UFA's out there like Stamkos and Yandle, a boatload of high-end defensemen available because of the expansion draft.

I'm hoping for the best but... after hearing today that he's interested in bringing back Kelly and Liles my hope is waining. What a disappointment it will be if he just brings back the same old crew.

This can't be ****ing serious, can it?

Nevermind. I found it:

Sweeney also hopes to continue conversations with UFA-to-be Chris Kelly and John-Michael Liles about returning, assuming both are healthy.

Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...ith_loui_eriksson_big_focus_of_busy_offseason

Seems serious to me. I can't believe he's even mentioning re-signing Chris Kelly. With our D problems, Kelly would be the absolute last thing on my priority list, right now. And last season proved that Liles is demonstrably NOT the solution to any of our D problems.

What is he doing?

 

[ODAAT]

Nevermind. I found it:



Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...ith_loui_eriksson_big_focus_of_busy_offseasonno

Seems serious to me. I can't believe he's even mentioning re-signing Chris Kelly. With our D problems, Kelly would be the absolute last thing on my priority list, right now.

What is he doing?

fans here doing the same in many threads too, focusing on a forward or two when clearly, for this fan, NOTHING should be addressed before the massive issue on D

 

[toasterjam]

fans here doing the same in many threads too, focusing on a forward or two when clearly, for this fan, NOTHING should be addressed before the massive issue on D

Don't worry defense has been fixed, K.Miller resigned.

Liles-chara
Seids-krug
K.miller-mcquaid

3rd times a charm right?
Things will be different now.

 

[DKH]

Don't worry defense has been fixed, K.Miller resigned.

Liles-chara
Seids-krug
K.miller-mcquaid

3rd times a charm right?
Things will be different now.

I like Kevin Miller and would have recommended the signing as long as Claude is coach. I like Claude, he's a very good coach- I'd have liked to have gone after Nate Leaman 'but' since they didn't give me Claude.

Miller plays the system well, he holds his ground he is patient and he has front net presence

K Miller can be beat like Custer at Little Bighorn by smaller quicker players but in his element he's useful and actually good.

my problem is I want Colin Miller but I cant remember any defenseman since 2007 have thrived playing his style which is more skating, challenging, leaving box a bit, closing gaps going to them and not vice versa

Krug can do it so maybe Colin can.

I have written off Trotman who I thought had a chance and don't think Morrow is going to make it here as constituted but Colin Miller I'd like to see get a chance

Tommy Cross to me could do it and like to see him be 7th guy.

My peeps have told me Cassidy went from having zero use for Cross to liking him a lot and appreciating him and his game

that is huge- hopefully Tommy is here and ends up the 6-7th guy

he has come along very well from where he was 15 years ago when we drafted him

 

[bp13]

I like Kevin Miller and would have recommended the signing as long as Claude is coach. I like Claude, he's a very good coach- I'd have liked to have gone after Nate Leaman 'but' since they didn't give me Claude.

Miller plays the system well, he holds his ground he is patient and he has front net presence

K Miller can be beat like Custer at Little Bighorn by smaller quicker players but in his element he's useful and actually good.

my problem is I want Colin Miller but I cant remember any defenseman since 2007 have thrived playing his style which is more skating, challenging, leaving box a bit, closing gaps going to them and not vice versa

Krug can do it so maybe Colin can.

I have written off Trotman who I thought had a chance and don't think Morrow is going to make it here as constituted but Colin Miller I'd like to see get a chance

Tommy Cross to me could do it and like to see him be 7th guy.

My peeps have told me Cassidy went from having zero use for Cross to liking him a lot and appreciating him and his game

that is huge- hopefully Tommy is here and ends up the 6-7th guy

he has come along very well from where he was 15 years ago when we drafted him

Not sure why people aren't a bit more optimistic about Morrow. I mean sure he's a journeyman at this point but he played fairly well for us last season and has 1st round pedigree. At the very least I could see him slotting above Tommy Cross for crying out loud.

For this team to generate any excitement, I think the defense will need two top 4 d-men added and Seidenberg, at the very least, subtracted. When that happens you should be left with Colin Miller as the 7, which is fine by me. And if you'd rather he get more playing time then put him in Providence and Cross can wear a suit in the press box, but once a guy gets hurt, it should be Colin in as the #6. So ideally it looks like this:

Chara - New #1/2
New #3/4 - McQuaid
Krug - Kevan Miller
Chiller (Cross, Trotman, Morrow, whomever wears a suit the best)

If those new guys are good to good enough, like say 2 of Lindholm, Vatananen, Trouba, Dumba, Shattenkirk, Yandle, Goligoski, then you have the makings of an NHL defense. But if you only grab one of those guys and Seidenberg is still here, the defense still sucks.

 

[DKH]

Not sure why people aren't a bit more optimistic about Morrow. I mean sure he's a journeyman at this point but he played fairly well for us last season and has 1st round pedigree. At the very least I could see him slotting above Tommy Cross for crying out loud.

For this team to generate any excitement, I think the defense will need two top 4 d-men added and Seidenberg, at the very least, subtracted. When that happens you should be left with Colin Miller as the 7, which is fine by me. And if you'd rather he get more playing time then put him in Providence and Cross can wear a suit in the press box, but once a guy gets hurt, it should be Colin in as the #6. So ideally it looks like this:

Chara - New #1/2
New #3/4 - McQuaid
Krug - Kevan Miller
Chiller (Cross, Trotman, Morrow, whomever wears a suit the best)

If those new guys are good to good enough, like say 2 of Lindholm, Vatananen, Trouba, Dumba, Shattenkirk, Yandle, Goligoski, then you have the makings of an NHL defense. But if you only grab one of those guys and Seidenberg is still here, the defense still sucks.

1. K Miller is better defensively than Morrow (Mick Colageo expounded on this a year or so ago on his questionable decision making and really, who knows more than Mick)

2. If Bruins fans want Shattenkirk or ??? Expect to give up pick 14 & top prospect or two. If you get Yandle or Gogo u are going to pay big time in $ and years

3. Bruins fans need to exercise patience and deal with it or find something else to do or just complain and want a new GM every April

Bruins fans need magic corn from Winter Warlock to get a couple of stud defenseman for Kevin Hayes while we wait on Carlo & Lauzon to crack top four over next 2-3 years

 

[Mpasta]

1. K Miller is better defensively than Morrow (Mick Colageo expounded on this a year or so ago on his questionable decision making and really, who knows more than Mick)

2. If Bruins fans want Shattenkirk or ??? Expect to give up pick 14 & top prospect or two. If you get Yandle or Gogo u are going to pay big time in $ and years

3. Bruins fans need to exercise patience and deal with it or find something else to do or just complain and want a new GM every April

Bruins fans need magic corn from Winter Warlock to get a couple of stud defenseman for Kevin Hayes while we wait on Carlo & Lauzon to crack top four over next 2-3 years

This one sounds like the most fun.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

1. K Miller is better defensively than Morrow (Mick Colageo expounded on this a year or so ago on his questionable decision making and really, who knows more than Mick)

2. If Bruins fans want Shattenkirk or ??? Expect to give up pick 14 & top prospect or two. If you get Yandle or Gogo u are going to pay big time in $ and years

3. Bruins fans need to exercise patience and deal with it or find something else to do or just complain and want a new GM every April

Bruins fans need magic corn from Winter Warlock to get a couple of stud defenseman for Kevin Hayes while we wait on Carlo & Lauzon to crack top four over next 2-3 years

I'm a fan who has plenty of patience, I am more worried about the patience in Buffalo

#14 ++ for Shattenkirk is just an absurd price to pay for a second pairing power play specialist. I have no interest at all in that deal

 

[DKH]

I'm a fan who has plenty of patience, I am more worried about the patience in Buffalo

#14 ++ for Shattenkirk is just an absurd price to pay for a second pairing power play specialist. I have no interest at all in that deal

Sweeney has patience Neely less

It's already been on display it's just not clear

 

[whatsbruin]

Sweeney has patience Neely less

It's already been on display it's just not clear

If they cannot make trades to make the D respectable, then waiting for the draft picks to come along will be a 5+ year wait. If that is the case, they should seriously consider trading the forwards who will not be in their prime in the next 3 - 5 years.
Granted, you cannot trade everyone, you need some vets to teach the young players, plus, you don't want to get into a vicious losing cycle like Edm.

I'm hoping Sweeney can bring in two top 4 D'men. One via trade, and one via UFA.
To make any noise, a new internal guy would really have to step up.
I have no hope for Morrow. Claude just won't play him. One mistake and he sits for
weeks. C. Miller has a little more rope than Morrow, but again I don't have much hope for him either for the same reason. The first half of last season K. Miller was one mistake after another, yet he rolled out there shift after shift.

Last year was the one where Morrow and C. Miller played, and made mistakes,
but learned. Now due to the mandate to make the PO's that can't happen.

Don't want to turn this into a Claude doesn't play kids thread, but I probably just did.

 

[BB88]

I'm a fan who has plenty of patience, I am more worried about the patience in Buffalo

#14 ++ for Shattenkirk is just an absurd price to pay for a second pairing power play specialist. I have no interest at all in that deal

With San Jose going into finals that 1st pick need to be kept and used to drafting a prospect, the best possible they can get.
Shatt isn't a franchise player and don't want to put the money on SJ pick prospect turning into elite player either.

 

[bp13]

1. K Miller is better defensively than Morrow (Mick Colageo expounded on this a year or so ago on his questionable decision making and really, who knows more than Mick)

2. If Bruins fans want Shattenkirk or ??? Expect to give up pick 14 & top prospect or two. If you get Yandle or Gogo u are going to pay big time in $ and years

3. Bruins fans need to exercise patience and deal with it or find something else to do or just complain and want a new GM every April

Bruins fans need magic corn from Winter Warlock to get a couple of stud defenseman for Kevin Hayes while we wait on Carlo & Lauzon to crack top four over next 2-3 years

DKH I know it's your thing to defend Sweeney from the mountain tops and preach patience, and to be honest, I don't really disagree with that viewpoint. The problem is that if the plan is to be patient and wait for some of the kids to develop, then he needs to work that plan. He can't keep vets with value at the deadline to fall for fool's gold. He can't sign 3rd pairing d-men to multi-year contracts as though a lack of 3rd pairing dmen was one of this team's 500 most pressing issues.

Last summer he came in and IMO, said most of the right things. Then he made a few deals in the name of the future, and to move a malcontent, and I supported the deals. But then he signed Rinaldo. And he re-upped McQuaid. And then he kept Loui and gave up more picks for Liles and Stempniak. And then he signed Kevan Miller to add to our growing stable of #5/6 d-men. What does that give us now, like all of them??? And now we are hearing whispers of bringing back crappy veterans like Kelly and Liles. So you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't tell me to be patient and claim his plan is to build for 3+ years from now and then have me watch him make moves specifically aimed at this year, or next year, that will have detrimental effects on the quality of the team in his supposed target window. It appears to many of us that he's going to try to patch it together to get his boss a few playoff gates all the while building for something bigger in 3+ years. And I think that plan is untenable.

 

[DKH]

DKH I know it's your thing to defend Sweeney from the mountain tops and preach patience, and to be honest, I don't really disagree with that viewpoint. The problem is that if the plan is to be patient and wait for some of the kids to develop, then he needs to work that plan. He can't keep vets with value at the deadline to fall for fool's gold. He can't sign 3rd pairing d-men to multi-year contracts as though a lack of 3rd pairing dmen was one of this team's 500 most pressing issues.

Last summer he came in and IMO, said most of the right things. Then he made a few deals in the name of the future, and to move a malcontent, and I supported the deals. But then he signed Rinaldo. And he re-upped McQuaid. And then he kept Loui and gave up more picks for Liles and Stempniak. And then he signed Kevan Miller to add to our growing stable of #5/6 d-men. What does that give us now, like all of them??? And now we are hearing whispers of bringing back crappy veterans like Kelly and Liles. So you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't tell me to be patient and claim his plan is to build for 3+ years from now and then have me watch him make moves specifically aimed at this year, or next year, that will have detrimental effects on the quality of the team in his supposed target window. It appears to many of us that he's going to try to patch it together to get his boss a few playoff gates all the while building for something bigger in 3+ years. And I think that plan is untenable.

I defend him because I am using my observations sources contacts hockey knowledge and coming to this conclusion. I may be right I may be wrong but it's real and it comes with a **** load of outside info. I'm good. Where I see growth and hope others see Rinaldo and Kemppainen. And sadly that isn't even being correctly assessed

I don't like it all that DS but I like the body of work and where they are going and we all have our views of what will happen

Mine is simple and honest - I see this team getting younger faster and skilled sooner - very soon rather than later

We all see things some similar some different. I expect my view to play out.

They'll be hits and misses some very unexpected.

I'm focused on what I believe will be the end result not so much every twist, turn, hill, or valley along the way

others can root for a new GM every 10 months I'm going to give him a chance - although it makes great reading here

 

[whatsbruin]

DKH I know it's your thing to defend Sweeney from the mountain tops and preach patience, and to be honest, I don't really disagree with that viewpoint. The problem is that if the plan is to be patient and wait for some of the kids to develop, then he needs to work that plan. He can't keep vets with value at the deadline to fall for fool's gold. He can't sign 3rd pairing d-men to multi-year contracts as though a lack of 3rd pairing dmen was one of this team's 500 most pressing issues.

Last summer he came in and IMO, said most of the right things. Then he made a few deals in the name of the future, and to move a malcontent, and I supported the deals. But then he signed Rinaldo. And he re-upped McQuaid. And then he kept Loui and gave up more picks for Liles and Stempniak. And then he signed Kevan Miller to add to our growing stable of #5/6 d-men. What does that give us now, like all of them??? And now we are hearing whispers of bringing back crappy veterans like Kelly and Liles. So you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't tell me to be patient and claim his plan is to build for 3+ years from now and then have me watch him make moves specifically aimed at this year, or next year, that will have detrimental effects on the quality of the team in his supposed target window. It appears to many of us that he's going to try to patch it together to get his boss a few playoff gates all the while building for something bigger in 3+ years. And I think that plan is untenable.

Was Liles crappy ?
What if he played the 2nd or 3rd pair PMD ?
Isn't that probably the best option this D will have ?
This D needs more moves than one offseason and trade chips can provide.
Keeping Liles, and adding two top 4 D'men would make me happy.

 

[Hali33]

I actually think a number of people recognized it will probably take 3-5 years to get this team back in good shape and contending again. It's part of the reason why it's pretty frustrating that it's happening during the prime years of our renaming core.

But that viewpoint was mocked as stupid HF and dismissed as doom and gloom because 1-2 years and we're contending again. So yeah, good idea to be patient but it works both ways.

 

[bp13]

Was Liles crappy ?
What if he played the 2nd or 3rd pair PMD ?
Isn't that probably the best option this D will have ?
This D needs more moves than one offseason and trade chips can provide.
Keeping Liles, and adding two top 4 D'men would make me happy.

But then it's a numbers problem. In fact it's a numbers problem already if they just add the 2 dmen I'm suggesting, let alone keep Liles.

I also have my doubts this defense could be "fixed" in one offseason, but I think we all pretty much agree on what we might term fixed...two top 4 dmen, one of which is a #1/#2. It's a real tough ask, though not impossible. The prevailing wisdom is one thru UFA (Yandle, Goligoski) and one through trade. Then you buy out or deal Seids and you have a decent defense. The issue with keeping Liles is his cost, and it means you need to get rid of someone else, or send down Chiller and one of the GM's most recent long-term deals (Mcquaid, K. Miller), or Liles himself, is then the healthy scratch. Seems highly unlikely to me.

 

[toasterjam]

I like Kevin Miller and would have recommended the signing as long as Claude is coach. I like Claude, he's a very good coach- I'd have liked to have gone after Nate Leaman 'but' since they didn't give me Claude.

Miller plays the system well, he holds his ground he is patient and he has front net presence

K Miller can be beat like Custer at Little Bighorn by smaller quicker players but in his element he's useful and actually good.

my problem is I want Colin Miller but I cant remember any defenseman since 2007 have thrived playing his style which is more skating, challenging, leaving box a bit, closing gaps going to them and not vice versa

Krug can do it so maybe Colin can.

I have written off Trotman who I thought had a chance and don't think Morrow is going to make it here as constituted but Colin Miller I'd like to see get a chance

Tommy Cross to me could do it and like to see him be 7th guy.

My peeps have told me Cassidy went from having zero use for Cross to liking him a lot and appreciating him and his game

that is huge- hopefully Tommy is here and ends up the 6-7th guy

he has come along very well from where he was 15 years ago when we drafted him

Maybe I am being too pessimistic here..I don't mind waiting out to see if Don has a plan in place to add a few quality defensemen..but hearing the Liles thing (nothing against Liles, I didn't mind him) it is unsettling that we could potentially be rolling out the same D and just hope for better results?

As for K.Miller...I admit here too that I may be too harsh on him but I still absolutely hate the signing..money alright...but 4 years?? Too long.

I give K.Miller credit, it took 40-50ish games but towards the end of the year he was playing a little more solid and smarter.

The first half of the season I think alot of people forget but K.Miller was consistently on the ice for very bad goals against and we lost some games due to it....turning out to be very valuable points lost. His play with the puck was godawful and also directly resulted in goals.

As far as net front presence, that's where I have to disagree with you. I think K.Miller was one of our worst d-men in front of the net, routinely out of position, chasing, confused with the puck just sitting there waiting to be plopped in. I wish I had the skills to edit videos because I'd be happy to make a compilation video showing this...he was very bad for the first half of the year in front of Rask. Now the entire D-core looked shaky in front of the net and clearing pucks and the crease, but I think K.Miller was one of the worst. I made it a point to watch him very closely.

Overall he improved but even with K.Miller improved I don't want him on this D-core for 4 more years..that is insane, especially with Mcquaid and Seids still signed. I was looking forward to moving on from Miller and it looks like we are now stuck with him for 4 more years and as our young D guys slowly get worked into the system I can see them stuck getting paired with him or even worse sitting in the pressbox while we continue to roll out Miller. Not to mention bruins have a habit of over playing K.Miller...he needs to play 5-6th D minutes, the more he is thrown out there, the more he is exposed.

I love Miller as a person, he is tough, fights...I really like him as a 6th guy. He can kill penalties and you are right, his game is suited for our system, I'm not sure how successful he'd be on some different teams.

I will still wait to see what Don has up his sleeve but I am not very confident at this point.

ending my K.Miller rant.

 

[the overrated]

I defend him because I am using my observations sources contacts hockey knowledge and coming to this conclusion. I may be right I may be wrong but it's real and it comes with a **** load of outside info. I'm good. Where I see growth and hope others see Rinaldo and Kemppainen. And sadly that isn't even being correctly assessed

I don't like it all that DS but I like the body of work and where they are going and we all have our views of what will happen

Mine is simple and honest - I see this team getting younger faster and skilled sooner - very soon rather than later

We all see things some similar some different. I expect my view to play out.

They'll be hits and misses some very unexpected.

I'm focused on what I believe will be the end result not so much every twist, turn, hill, or valley along the way

others can root for a new GM every 10 months I'm going to give him a chance - although it makes great reading here

What is the correct assessment?

 

[DKH]

Maybe I am being too pessimistic here..I don't mind waiting out to see if Don has a plan in place to add a few quality defensemen..but hearing the Liles thing (nothing against Liles, I didn't mind him) it is unsettling that we could potentially be rolling out the same D and just hope for better results?

As for K.Miller...I admit here too that I may be too harsh on him but I still absolutely hate the signing..money alright...but 4 years?? Too long.

I give K.Miller credit, it took 40-50ish games but towards the end of the year he was playing a little more solid and smarter.

The first half of the season I think alot of people forget but K.Miller was consistently on the ice for very bad goals against and we lost some games due to it....turning out to be very valuable points lost. His play with the puck was godawful and also directly resulted in goals.

As far as net front presence, that's where I have to disagree with you. I think K.Miller was one of our worst d-men in front of the net, routinely out of position, chasing, confused with the puck just sitting there waiting to be plopped in. I wish I had the skills to edit videos because I'd be happy to make a compilation video showing this...he was very bad for the first half of the year in front of Rask. Now the entire D-core looked shaky in front of the net and clearing pucks and the crease, but I think K.Miller was one of the worst. I made it a point to watch him very closely.

Overall he improved but even with K.Miller improved I don't want him on this D-core for 4 more years..that is insane, especially with Mcquaid and Seids still signed. I was looking forward to moving on from Miller and it looks like we are now stuck with him for 4 more years and as our young D guys slowly get worked into the system I can see them stuck getting paired with him or even worse sitting in the pressbox while we continue to roll out Miller. Not to mention bruins have a habit of over playing K.Miller...he needs to play 5-6th D minutes, the more he is thrown out there, the more he is exposed.

I love Miller as a person, he is tough, fights...I really like him as a 6th guy. He can kill penalties and you are right, his game is suited for our system, I'm not sure how successful he'd be on some different teams.

I will still wait to see what Don has up his sleeve but I am not very confident at this point.

ending my K.Miller rant.

Sweeney is going to look very smart once Lauzon, JFK, Sensyshyn, Vesey and others make it

That I know

The question how many more months is he going to be labeled dumb and Incompetent