Management A letter from Charlie Jacobs

[BiteThisBurrows]

I really think firing Sweeney at this moment would be a mistake. We can blame him for past mistakes, and all of that is fair, but they recognized the end of the era and he made an incredibly quick shift and change of direction bringing in speed and skill and energy and we have some prospects that are kind of exciting. Picks to come and much work to do but I think he gets this off season and into next year to see how fast he can get this going.
If the retool is failing next year clean house and tank for McKenna and then hire a rebuild GM and start a really new era. Firing Sweeney now though will create a lot of uncertainty and the new guy has to learn about everybody and maybe we screw up the draft and everything takes longer and if it's the wrong guy (think Drury in NY as an example) it can all crash and burn worse.

What I really want though is a coach who will develop and roll with the youth and speed and not just a team of NHL/AHL in betweeners and mediocre vets. We need a balanced roster of young and old, fast and tough and work that around a strong competitive culture.

The team has the cornerstones of success. You absolutely need a star forward, a stud D man, and a solid goalie. Assuming Swayman gets his form back and McAvoy is healthy we have those 3 key veteran pieces. You build everything else around that. It can all fail, but I do see a pathway to a fairly quick turnaround.

 

[NeelyDan]

That guy is a complete stooge

 

[PB37]

I think they'll either hire a new coach quickly or run with Sacco. Jacobs, Neely, and Sweeney all seemed displeased over the lack of a system or plan from the coaching staff this past training camp so they will most likely do everything they can to avoid a repeat to get everyone on the same page.

 

[rfournier103]

I think they'll either hire a new coach quickly or run with Sacco. Jacobs, Neely, and Sweeney all seemed displeased over the lack of a system or plan from the coaching staff this past training camp so they will most likely do everything they can to avoid a repeat to get everyone on the same page.

There’s no way they could have been blind to Montgomery’s rudderless approach to training camp and this season. If they weren’t happy with Jim, maybe they need to do a better job supervising their subordinates.

 

[PB37]

There’s no way they could have been blind to Montgomery’s rudderless approach to training camp and this season. If they weren’t happy with Jim, maybe they need to do a better job supervising their subordinates.

They definitely gave him too much rope.

 

[GordonHowe]

The letter does come across as incredibly presumptuous and haughty. Very easy to see why it would rub people the wrong way.

Its actual content though is nothing new. The franchise has been run the same way for decades and in the current circumstances it's already been made clear by Sweeney and Neely what course they're taking to try and right the ship. Of course you can disagree with that plan but it's not new.

So just personally I think if the tone is the issue then fair enough, but if it's more about what ownership are actually doing, well to me it's just more of the same and shouldn't shock anybody.

I don't think it's haughty.

I think that's the way Charlie sees things.

And that's fine.

No illusions in this corner.

 

[Babajingo]

If Monty was tanking during preseason and these clowns didn't do anything about it, that's on them. Not on Monty.
They've lost most of their Chia/O'Connell crutches. Pasta is the only one left. Poor Pasta. He's going to have a bunch of 30 something lead footed 4th liners or rookie NCAA draft picks to play with.

 

[Trizz617]

Status quo when the Bruins need to hit big in the one aspect of the job Sweeney objectively sucks ass at over his 10 years as GM is not what i want to hear.

Not like i get a choice either way. You better be making the right call, Charlie.

As long as asses continue to fill up seats and ownership makes big bank on concessions, should we really expect them to make radical changes?

 

[LJReborn]

I don't get the outrage.

That he can't understand why fans would want better success when it mattered in the playoffs the past decade and aren't exactly excited paying a premium to see the worst team in the conference?

 

[LJReborn]

I think they'll either hire a new coach quickly or run with Sacco. Jacobs, Neely, and Sweeney all seemed displeased over the lack of a system or plan from the coaching staff this past training camp so they will most likely do everything they can to avoid a repeat to get everyone on the same page.

Amazing that Montgomery is the only person being held accountable from this shitastic season.

 

[GordonHowe]

I really think firing Sweeney at this moment would be a mistake. We can blame him for past mistakes, and all of that is fair, but they recognized the end of the era and he made an incredibly quick shift and change of direction bringing in speed and skill and energy and we have some prospects that are kind of exciting. Picks to come and much work to do but I think he gets this off season and into next year to see how fast he can get this going.
If the retool is failing next year clean house and tank for McKenna and then hire a rebuild GM and start a really new era. Firing Sweeney now though will create a lot of uncertainty and the new guy has to learn about everybody and maybe we screw up the draft and everything takes longer and if it's the wrong guy (think Drury in NY as an example) it can all crash and burn worse.

What I really want though is a coach who will develop and roll with the youth and speed and not just a team of NHL/AHL in betweeners and mediocre vets. We need a balanced roster of young and old, fast and tough and work that around a strong competitive culture.

The team has the cornerstones of success. You absolutely need a star forward, a stud D man, and a solid goalie. Assuming Swayman gets his form back and McAvoy is healthy we have those 3 key veteran pieces. You build everything else around that. It can all fail, but I do see a pathway to a fairly quick turnaround.

Again, they have the keys in the off season.

For the moment, they aren't going anywhere.

And they have at least until the Thanksgiving mark of next season before a performance evaluation dictates their demise.

So get used to it and hope for the best in the interim.

 

[GordonHowe]

As long as asses continue to fill up seats and ownership makes big bank on concessions, should we really expect them to make radical changes?

Three answers, and two don't count.

 

[Number8]

There’s no way they could have been blind to Montgomery’s rudderless approach to training camp and this season. If they weren’t happy with Jim, maybe they need to do a better job supervising their subordinates.

No kidding. How did they miss that Monty was, at the very least, subconsciously in STL before the season even started?

Also, is it just me is Charlie J a little Murphyesque? Jimmy Thin Skins has a twin? Charlie Thin Skins? Wow. Who knew? Not on my bingo card. Virtually no resemblance. Amazing.

 

[wintersej]

I think they should fire the GM right before a huge draft. It worked out super awesome the last time they gave a GM the keys when he had not done any scouting.

 

[PlayMakers]

The letter does come across as incredibly presumptuous and haughty. Very easy to see why it would rub people the wrong way.

Its actual content though is nothing new. The franchise has been run the same way for decades and in the current circumstances it's already been made clear by Sweeney and Neely what course they're taking to try and right the ship. Of course you can disagree with that plan but it's not new.

So just personally I think if the tone is the issue then fair enough, but if it's more about what ownership are actually doing, well to me it's just more of the same and shouldn't shock anybody.

Honestly, I don't even see what is haughty or presumptuous about it.

He says all the right things IMO.

 

[LJReborn]

No kidding. How did they miss that Monty was, at the very least, subconsciously in STL before the season even started?

Also, is it just me is Charlie J a little Murphyesque? Jimmy Thin Skins has a twin? Charlie Thin Skins? Wow. Who knew? Not on my bingo card. Virtually no resemblance. Amazing.

Again, what do you expect from an employee who you were going to fire the year before if he lost in the playoffs round 1 and no interest in giving him an extension. They should have fired him regardless, they only won that series because of Swayman.

I still haven't figured out who built all these calamities

 

[PlayMakers]

That he can't understand why fans would want better success when it mattered in the playoffs the past decade and aren't exactly excited paying a premium to see the worst team in the conference?

He literally says he's not satisfied with level of success they've experienced over the last decade. And that winning another Stanley Cup remains their goal.

He also thanks the fans for supporting a crap team, which they have. Last game of the year last night, the building was full of people cheering for goals and supporting the team.

 

[Fenian24]

1 cup in 50 years

Yeah, but look at all those Adam's division champs banners. Really wish Jacob’s inc would just have the balls to put up a "Most profitable franchise for 50 years" banner, only thing that has ever matter to Darth JJ

 

[LJReborn]

He literally says despite the successes of the last decade they ultimately fell short.

He also thanks the fans for supporting a crap team, which they have. Last game of the year last night, the building was full of people cheering for goals and supporting the team.

Guessing you missed his Globe interview

 

[wintersej]

1 cup in 50 years

Yeah it’s true, but I think you have to draw a line between the pre cap and post cap way the Bruins have managed things.

 

[PlayMakers]

Guessing you missed his Globe interview

No, I haven't seen that. Just this letter.

Is the article posted here somewhere? I don't subscribe to the Globe.

 

[MattFromFranklin]

“It’s hard for me to wrap my head around why people call for [Neely and Sweeney’s] heads.”

Unfortunately, it's not surprising. It appears to be the Old Boys Club. Sweeney and Neely used to play for the Bruins, are good friends, and the Jacobs family loves them. None of those things should matter, but apparently some of the higher-ups in the organization care about those things.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Honestly, I don't even see what is haughty or presumptuous about it.

He says all the right things IMO.

Charlie calls himself a Bostonian. To judge from the reaction, that’s a reach. He also calls himself a Boston Bruin. Uh-uh. Nope. Players are Bruins, maybe long-term staff. Owners are not.

He thanks the fans for their “unwavering support”. That’s a bit presumptuous. Also rather hints that there’s something wrong with you if you stop giving it.

Charlie says that “expectations and accountability are higher than ever”. To date there’s little evidence that’s the case.

The stated aim “to restore glory to this great franchise” is laying it on a bit thick but I’ll accept that’s probably just a matter of taste.

In the Globe he says he can’t understand why some people would want Sweeny and Neely fired. Really? You can disagree, but to claim not be get why it might be seen as a valid option suggests some pretty strong detachment, unless it’s purely protective.

And finally, in the Globe Charlie hangs Monty, which is fine, but he doesn’t pause to ponder it any further as to why the Monty situation was able to play out the way it did, and who should bear responsibility for that.

That’s my take. Don’t think any of what he said and wrote is outright horrible. And most of this stuff is a matter of interpretation or opinion. But again, I can see why it would annoy some folks, especially some of those forking out a lot of money to support the team. That's all I'm saying.

 

[PlayMakers]

Charlie calls himself a Bostonian. To judge from the reaction, that’s a reach. He also calls himself a Boston Bruin. Uh-uh. Nope. Players are Bruins, maybe long-term staff. Owners are not.

He thanks the fans for their “unwavering support”. That’s a bit presumptuous. Also rather hints that there’s something wrong with you if you stop giving it.

Charlie says that “expectations and accountability are higher than ever”. To date there’s little evidence that’s the case.

The stated aim “to restore glory to this great franchise” is laying it on a bit thick but I’ll accept that’s probably just a matter of taste.

In the Globe he says he can’t understand why some people would want Sweeny and Neely fired. Really? You can disagree, but to claim not be get why it might be seen as a valid option suggests some pretty strong detachment, unless it’s purely protective.

And finally, in the Globe Charlie hangs Monty, which is fine, but he doesn’t pause to ponder it any further as to why the Monty situation was able to play out the way it did, and who should bear responsibility for that.

That’s my take. Don’t think any of what he said and wrote is outright horrible. And most of this stuff is a matter of interpretation or opinion. But again, I can see why it would annoy some folks, especially some of those forking out a lot of money to support the team. That's all I'm saying.

Well, I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I didn't read it like that at all.

I don't take offense to him saying he's a Bostonian. My parents are immigrants but they consider themselves Bostonians. He's lived here for a long time. At what point does someone become a Bostonian? Or a New Yorker? How many decades does it take to be one of us? This take feels eerily similar to some of the political stuff going on regarding people who aren't 'from here.'

I think him thanking fans is just that. Did you see people at the game last night? Cheering for saves, cheering for goals... I don't think he's talking to the scorned HFBoards crowd. I think he was genuinely thanking the fans who keep coming to the games despite the team being awful.

I took the expectations and accountability line to mean they're not going to accept another blown season. To me, that's reasonable. I think, after a decade of success it would have been an overreaction to fire the front office for one bad season. But two bad seasons? That would be something they'd look at.

I can't access the Globe article so I can't speak to the Monty comments.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

"Cant understand why people are calling for Neely and Sweeneys heads....."

Tell me youre out of touch, without telling me you are out of touch.

He also labeled himself a Boston Bruin which reads as forced and artificially intended... sickening but non surprising of course.