I think it's a mixed bag. I don't get as worked up about draft position as some but I understand the frustration when it's a really big omission (like Barzal). I know some want to disregard 2015 because he wasn't on the job long but if you choose to throw out Barzal then you also can't give him credit for DeBrusk, Carlo, Lauzon... And I do like a lot of his picks; Studnicka, Lauzon, Beecher, Lauko, Hall, Vaak, Swayman, Berglund, Frederic... at the end of the day, we don't know what we have in these guys yet.
- Developing draft picks and young talent: C
I would think, with his background, Sweeney would be better at this, but it feels like quite a few guys have stalled in their development. Frederic, Vaakanainen, Cehlarik, Zboril, Blidh... Senyshyn never took off, neither has Cooper Zech. At the NHL level too, guys like Heinen, Bjork, Lauzon, Kuhlman and Clifton haven't really established themselves as reliable NHL'ers and it feels like there's never a set role for them. They're always in and out of the lineup, on one side then the other, different partners or linemates... Contrast that with Jake DeBrusk, who plays on the 2nd line come hell or high water.
On the flip side, Studnicka looked good in the playoffs and I have high hopes for Lauzon, Clifton and Bjork to be regular contributors this year. I hope they get roles and are allowed to settle into them.
- Identifying and signing college free agents: A
Considering the success rate of college free agents Sweeney has done really well. He also seems to have a great sense for defensemen. I'm really hoping Ahcan and Wolff are his next two success stories.
- Acquiring NHL talent to fill holes: F
5 years without a second line RW during the end of the Bergeron era is unforgivable.
- Making trades (player for player, player for futures, futures for player): C
He has done very well as a seller; Lucic, Hamilton. I think he's done very poorly on hockey trades; Heinen for Ritchie, Smith for Hayes... He's done better dealing futures for talent; Donato for Coyle, a pick for Mojo, but he's also had some duds in there as well.
- Trade deadline acquisitions: D
Always leaves me wanting more. Feels like he never goes all in. Coyle and Mojo stand as his best day, and even on that day I was pissed he didn't do more to land a RW for Krejci (and it was going to be Coyle then he didn't do more to land a 3C). They needed 3 players at that deadline and came away with 2, and it was almost enough.
It also feels like he doesn't target the perfect fit. Rather than identify 2 or 3 guys who would solve this problem, he goes to the market saying what can I get for two dimes and a nickel? Like he's more concerned about what he's spending than what he's getting.
- Free Agency (as in July 1st UFA's): D
There are some wins here: Halak, Wagner, Nordy, but for the most part he's added players that he had to pay to get rid of; Beleskey, Backes, maybe Moore. He's never added a difference maker, like a Savard or Chara, even when he had an in like with Taylor Hall.
- Getting existing players to sign at discounts: A
I worry a little that his hard-line approach will lead to some ill will from their star players, or bring back the reputation that the Bruins are a cheap organization that won't pay for talent, but for now that's just a worry. Good deals are good deals.
- Overall team performance under Sweeney: A-
He took a DNQ team, changed the coach and saw that team make it to a Cup final and win a President's Trophy. I take a point off because I think he could have done a bit more to get them over the hump, but few teams have had as much success over the last couple years.
Overall, I can see elements of the future coming together with guys like Studnicka, Beecher, Frederic down the middle, really mobile defense like Mac, Gryz, Carlo and even a potential Rask replacement in Swayman or Keyser. On the other hand, he seems to really struggle making deals to acquire what we need, in trade or free agency. If we don't grow it, we don't get it. And it's going to be hard to replace truly elite players like Chara, Bergeron and Marchand. He doesn't really draft play driving offensive players like Marchand at all.
