Are the Bruins becoming an undesirable destination for players?

[DKH]

It can really go either way.

Boston is definitely one of the nicer cities you can play in (subjective of course, but I feel like most would feel this way to some degree). You also have a pretty good balance between the media/fans knowing who you are but not being completely overbearing like a Canadian city would be. You have bigger draws like the Pats and Sox to take some pressure off. If you "make it" on the Bruins, they show great loyalty to you. Guys like Bergeron/Krejci/Chara probably love it. Long deals, no-movement clauses all around.

On the downside, the team seems directionless at the moment, and there's no question players' offense has been limited in this system in the past. We'll see if that's the case going forward though as last year was a good offensive year for the best players. When your GM acknowledges mishandling young players in the past, it's never a good sign either.

Read my post above on the direction I outline the D.

Not calling you out because I don't recall Sweeney acknowledge mishandling players

 

[chizzler]

Read my post above on the direction I outline the D.

Not calling you out because I don't recall Sweeney acknowledge mishandling players

He hasn't but has said they need to be patient with their young players.

 

[Duguay]

He hasn't but has said they need to be patient with their young players.

I have read comments (somewhere) from Don Sweeney that were sobering and contrite. He all but alluded to the rookie mistakes made. Now, in a league like this one, you have to overpay and go the other way to dig yourself out of the hole. It's like paddling up a rapids -- cos you took a wrong turn.

To be fair, the mistakes had been occurring in a steady stream prior to his command.

To get this thing turned around, the FO will need a couple of wins. No more tail chasing please.

 

[VanIsle]

I would say it is still desirable, but not as desirable as it once was.

The team was near/at the top of the league for a while, with great leadership and great players, in the last couple of years it has gone downhill a little bit by missing the playoffs by the narrowest of margins.

Players have to know what is going on in Boston with them shipping out players and weird management decisions.

Depending on who you are, desirable for some and not as desirable for others, it all depends on the player.

 

[Greek_physique]

It's an easy answer for me - No.

Sure, this team over the past few years has missed the playoffs but at the same time we had no cap space.

Belesky was one of the better UFA's last year and he came to Boston for 5 years.

This year we have even more cap space; so if Sweeney decides to go after someone money won't be a problem.

That was the only reason a guy like Iggy didn't re-sign with Boston...we couldnt make the money work.

 

[Eddie Munson]

It's an easy answer for me - No.

Sure, this team over the past few years has missed the playoffs but at the same time we had no cap space.

Belesky was one of the better UFA's last year and he came to Boston for 5 years.

This year we have even more cap space; so if Sweeney decides to go after someone money won't be a problem.

That was the only reason a guy like Iggy didn't re-sign with Boston...we couldnt make the money work.

Agreed with all this.

There was no flexibility with money before this year, Boston was always right up against the cap, seemed to have an overage penalty every year as well as Savards money. There was never a really anyway for them to make a sales pitch the past several years.

It's an awesome beautiful city that is crazy about sports, it's a top-6 team with great history and nostalgia. In the end though Money talks and they finally have it.

 

[GordonHowe]

You and I are on the same page here. There is a strong sense of deja vu all over again lately. I don't like it.

Me either.

Intelligent & knowledgeable, they are nonetheless greenies.

I have no idea what "the plan" is, and if they have one, their ability to execute it remains in serious doubt. This looks like a three year turn around, and I mean *beginning* in 2016-17.

If they crash & burn for a third straight year, I hope both get the boot. Bring in someone who has no ties to the organization, and doesn't consult an old bugger in FLA for forty year old advice.

We had a guy like that. Completely rebuilt a joke of a franchise & delivered its first Cup since '72. Ran him out of town & handed the keys to the Glimmer Twins.

Bang up effing job so far.

 

[GordonHowe]

Wish I could post some good stuff I got on Chia that would rock your boat but nice to read posts that are so off base but still I like you and your passion and keep making me smile

Keep defending Chia it's admirable .

Certainly.

It can't be any further divorced from reality than cheering every jot & tittle from Kasparov On Causeway & his master plan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOAgB0yvLBA

 

[DKH]

Certainly.

It can't be any further divorced from reality than cheering every jot & tittle from Kasparov On Causeway & his master plan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOAgB0yvLBA

I apologize for this. I didn't realize Chiarelli was going to out do himself with last years epic horrible deal with the Islanders but he did if today.

my condolences and I won't take shots at him during these troubling times

 

[GordonHowe]

I apologize for this. I didn't realize Chiarelli was going to out do himself with last years epic horrible deal with the Islanders but he did if today.

my condolences and I won't take shots at him during these troubling times

Those McQuaid & Miller signings were strong. The Hamilton trade? Strong. Rinaldo? Equally strong. Utterly failing to upgrade a putrid defense? Sharp. Choosing to hang on to 30 year old Lady Bing candidate Loui Eriksson, *and then attempting to resign him as a UFA, as well as "burned draft selection" deadline JAGS* in LS & JML? Truly, adroit "asset management." Frederic at 29? Better still.

"Lucy, you got a lotta explainin' to do."

I wonder which club will return to relevance first.

In the event, run up an alley & holler "Fish." It's fun.

 

[DKH]

Those McQuaid & Miller signings were strong. The Hamilton trade? Strong. Rinaldo? Equally strong. Utterly failing to upgrade a putrid defense? Sharp. Choosing to hang on to 30 year old Lady Bing candidate Loui Eriksson, *and then attempting to resign him as a UFA, as well as "burned draft selection" deadline JAGS* in LS & JML? Truly, adroit "asset management." Frederic at 29? Better still.

"Lucy, you got a lotta explainin' to do."

I wonder which club will return to relevance first.

In the event, run up an alley & holler "Fish." It's fun.

Hey have a good night sleep - Peter is not as bad as what they are saying.

This bums me out a bit. They are viscious

 

[GordonHowe]

Hey have a good night sleep - Peter is not as bad as what they are saying.

This bums me out a bit. They are viscious

Alternately, you can mail a bear. I'm serious.

 

[MisterY]

Hi Bruins fan, Habs fan here....

I wonder why you would think that Boston could be an undesirable destination. First of all, I think that the first motivation for a hockey player is the money. Then, the attraction of the city and everything that comes with it.

Having visited Boston three times, I consider your city as one of the nicest place I would like to live in the US, and I have visited a lot of US cities...

Obviously I am not a pro-hockey player, but I find difficult to believe that the management of a team would be an argument if I had to chose between two equally $$ offers.

Boston is not Detroit.

As a hab fan, I hate the Bruins, but I love your city (I'm a weird alien who hates the Bruins but cheers for the Red Sox). If I were a hockey player, Boston would rank high on a list of destinations where I could play.

 

[LSCII]

Hi Bruins fan, Habs fan here....

I wonder why you would think that Boston could be an undesirable destination. First of all, I think that the first motivation for a hockey player is the money. Then, the attraction of the city and everything that comes with it.

Having visited Boston three times, I consider your city as one of the nicest place I would like to live in the US, and I have visited a lot of US cities...

Obviously I am not a pro-hockey player, but I find difficult to believe that the management of a team would be an argument if I had to chose between two equally $$ offers.

Boston is not Detroit.

As a hab fan, I hate the Bruins, but I love your city (I'm a weird alien who hates the Bruins but cheers for the Red Sox). If I were a hockey player, Boston would rank high on a list of destinations where I could play.

I think most of us aren't looking at it from a city perspective and what it has to offer, but rather taking a hockey view and how the team is in a state of transition, which could make it undesirable to free agents.

 

[ODAAT]

I think most of us aren't looking at it from a city perspective and what it has to offer, but rather taking a hockey view and how the team is in a state of transition, which could make it undesirable to free agents.

I think it depends a bit LS, the players these days are smart dudes, they can see what teams have either done or are doing and yes, the B`s have taken a step back and most likely aren`t THE target of most but this is far from a circus IMO and I am one of the minority who truthfully believes this team is closer to once again competing than most believe they are.

They have set themselves up with a ton of D prospects (yes, I know anything can happen with a prospect) who look very promising, have added some very intriguing prospects up front (again, ya just never know), toss in Bergy, Marchand, DK up front and with some sound moves, and a bit of prospect luck, this team can compete again soon.

I think we see teams like the Leafs/Sabres improving as the years will go by but that will be 2-3 years away, I think the B`s will reload before that time and once again be a force in the East

If I`m a UFA, they would definitely be in the running, great city, knowledgeable fan base, a team that will be competitive and playing in a full barn every night (well, we`ll see this year), I think the city offers enough for a younger UFA to sign there as well as a family man, I can think of plenty of cities and teams that I would consider putting lower on my list of desireables.

I think Boston is still in a top 10 of places to play, probably only a short few years ago, that was a top 5 but one thing a UFA is virtually guaranteed at this time which they possibly wouldn`t be 3-4 years ago is they will get a chance to play as this isn`t necessarily a team who has the depth it once did

 

[DKH]

Me either.

Intelligent & knowledgeable, they are nonetheless greenies.

I have no idea what "the plan" is, and if they have one, their ability to execute it remains in serious doubt. This looks like a three year turn around, and I mean *beginning* in 2016-17.

If they crash & burn for a third straight year, I hope both get the boot. Bring in someone who has no ties to the organization, and doesn't consult an old bugger in FLA for forty year old advice.

We had a guy like that. Completely rebuilt a joke of a franchise & delivered its first Cup since '72. Ran him out of town & handed the keys to the Glimmer Twins.

Bang up effing job so far.

Hey look over there a butterfly

 

[DKH]

Hi Bruins fan, Habs fan here....

I wonder why you would think that Boston could be an undesirable destination. First of all, I think that the first motivation for a hockey player is the money. Then, the attraction of the city and everything that comes with it.

Having visited Boston three times, I consider your city as one of the nicest place I would like to live in the US, and I have visited a lot of US cities...

Obviously I am not a pro-hockey player, but I find difficult to believe that the management of a team would be an argument if I had to chose between two equally $$ offers.

Boston is not Detroit.

As a hab fan, I hate the Bruins, but I love your city (I'm a weird alien who hates the Bruins but cheers for the Red Sox). If I were a hockey player, Boston would rank high on a list of destinations where I could play.

Boston is number 1 if not 2 in the US and that's even with a crap team which they don't have

Great city original six and they pay

Comical to think otherwise

Chara and Savard signed with a crap team and Dave Lewis

HF posters look at the team, players and their families look at area getting money team

Bruins are easily number 1 or 2

 

[ODAAT]

Boston is number 1 if not 2 in the US and that's even with a crap team which they don't have

Great city original six and they pay

Comical to think otherwise

Chara and Savard signed with a crap team and Dave Lewis

HF posters look at the team, players and their families look at area getting money team

Bruins are easily number 1 or 2

I`d sign there for league minimum but I`m a notoriously cheap date

 

[Kaoz]

Its all about the money and the Bruins money is just as green as anywhere else.

edit: Wally got to it first.

Everyone else has money too. When talking about the cream of the crop, guys who can play where they want, considering more then just money becomes important.

Boston is beautiful. That's a serious plus. When it comes to atmosphere however you have a media circus almost as brutal as places like Toronto and Montreal, you have an incredibly demanding fan base, and you have a front office who doesn't seem to have a solid plan for the future nor the competence to get there even if they did. Throw in a coach who isn't afraid to sacrifice personal performance for overall team performance (not necessarily a great thing if you're drawing a pay check based largely on the former) and you have an undesirable atmosphere imo, but one that can at least be changed. It isn't Phoenix or Edmonton by any means.

 

[GordonHowe]

Hey look over there a butterfly

Try mailing a bear. It really works.

 

[Greek_physique]

We got Backes...so I guess we're okay

 

[Hamilton Brian]

We got Backes...so I guess we're okay

Was going to suggest the same thing.

 

[Boston Bruno]

Was going to suggest the same thing.

And then there is Demers to the panthers..

 

[bigcat188]

Actuality no, they love paying big bucks to stiffs.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Well I guess I should ask again...