Bruce Cassidy Fired - Part II - Now he is in the Frozen Four with VGK

[Over the volcano]

Apologies if this was already posted and discussed.

Here's an interview with John Buccigross on his feelings on what the particulars of Cassidy's firing were about and the things he was hearing.

MSN

“Bruce Cassidy as a coach, he’s respected, great X’s and O’s guy, knows how to game plan, how to beat the other team,” Buccigross said. “It’s elite, obviously, the amount of games he won as the Bruins’ head coach. … But his communication skills and people managing, for some, have been difficult to deal with. Kind of a running commentary on the bench, which players sometimes hear and maybe they think, ‘Jeez, I wonder what he’s saying about me.’ It’s not uncommon.

“…It’s a delicate thing. The motivational tactics he uses, certainly really harsh, on young players especially. And that’s the part which, probably as the Bruins are looking to go forward with perhaps a younger core -- I don’t want to call it a rebuild -- but his voice I think was growing tired. I think players probably in the exit meetings, from what I was told, kind of voiced their opinion about him.

..."“I think it’s more the younger players,” Buccigross said. “Obviously he’s not gonna say the same things to Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand as he is for younger players. He’s just not gonna go there. But yeah, just kind of playing some mind games with them to talk about their role, ‘Maybe it’s not gonna work out here,’ and some kid who’s on his first deal or looking for his next deal, it’s like, ‘What does this mean? Do I go talk to my agent? Do I talk to anybody about this?’"

Sure fits what we've seen and heard for a while now

 

[Fenway]

Apologies if this was already posted and discussed.

Here's an interview with John Buccigross on his feelings on what the particulars of Cassidy's firing were about and the things he was hearing.

MSN

“Bruce Cassidy as a coach, he’s respected, great X’s and O’s guy, knows how to game plan, how to beat the other team,” Buccigross said. “It’s elite, obviously, the amount of games he won as the Bruins’ head coach. … But his communication skills and people managing, for some, have been difficult to deal with. Kind of a running commentary on the bench, which players sometimes hear and maybe they think, ‘Jeez, I wonder what he’s saying about me.’ It’s not uncommon.

“…It’s a delicate thing. The motivational tactics he uses, certainly really harsh, on young players especially. And that’s the part which, probably as the Bruins are looking to go forward with perhaps a younger core -- I don’t want to call it a rebuild -- but his voice I think was growing tired. I think players probably in the exit meetings, from what I was told, kind of voiced their opinion about him.

ESPN's John Buccigross Joins To Discuss The Bruins Firing Bruce Cassidy

ESPN's John Buccigross Joins The Show To Discuss The Bruins Surprising Firing Of Bruce Cassidy On Monday Night

www.audacy.com

 

[Fenway]

 

[BruinsFanMike82]

Kevin Weekes on what's going on in Boston:

"I want to be respectful of everybody involved... I feel like things had run their course with coach Cassidy, who did a really nice job there. He brought in a lot of those young [Providence] players... but it had just run its' course in the dressing room. From speaking to different people, different players, it had just run its' course and had started grating on them a little bit. There were just enough influential players in that group that were essentially saying, 'hey, at this point we'd rather it be somebody else.' ... I just know from enough people there that it just got to the point where guys were just kind of over it - it started grating on guys a little bit too much."

 

[Kate08]

People lose their jobs all the time. But to tell someone they're safe and then weeks later go back with an LOL JK you're fired, is completely gutless and shows a lack of strategic and cohesive direction.

..."“I think it’s more the younger players,” Buccigross said. “Obviously he’s not gonna say the same things to Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand as he is for younger players. He’s just not gonna go there. But yeah, just kind of playing some mind games with them to talk about their role, ‘Maybe it’s not gonna work out here,’ and some kid who’s on his first deal or looking for his next deal, it’s like, ‘What does this mean? Do I go talk to my agent? Do I talk to anybody about this?’"

Sure fits what we've seen and heard for a while now

Literally the entire world is forced to figure out how to communicate and coach an intergenerational workforce.

Why is this such a hard thing to do in sports?

 

[LSCII]

People lose their jobs all the time. But to tell someone they're safe and then weeks later go back with an LOL JK you're fired, is completely gutless and shows a lack of strategic and cohesive direction.



Literally the entire world is forced to figure out how to communicate and coach an intergenerational workforce.

Why is this such a hard thing to do in sports?

It also speaks to the impetuous nature and lack of impulse control in Neely. This move has his finger prints all over it, IMO. Much like the bad deal they got in return for Seguin. Overly emotional to a fault. Guy is a clown.

 

[McGarnagle]

I know it's Jimmy Murphy, so take it with a very large grain of salt, but he's claiming that Sweeney wanted Cassidy back and fought for him and it was Neely who said no and forced him to fire him.

Either way, telling Bruce at exit meetings that he was safe then firing him 2 weeks later is unethical and going to be a black mark on Sweeney's integrity when trying to negotiate with agents and other GMs.

 

[PB37]

Literally the entire world is forced to figure out how to communicate and coach an intergenerational workforce.

Why is this such a hard thing to do in sports?

Egos, alpha male personalities, and the old boys club mentality still prevalent in hockey.

 

[Saxon Eric]

That's life in the big City
I wish him well

 

[BruinDust]

People lose their jobs all the time. But to tell someone they're safe and then weeks later go back with an LOL JK you're fired, is completely gutless and shows a lack of strategic and cohesive direction.



Literally the entire world is forced to figure out how to communicate and coach an intergenerational workforce.

Why is this such a hard thing to do in sports?

Isn't it more gutless to keep around a manager(in this case head coach) that you feel needs to be replaced? Is it better that they keep someone around because they don't have the nerve to tell them their services are no longer wanted here?

To me this is Dave Lewis 2.0. The management's first instinct was to keep them, but the players had a mutiny during the exit meetings and management realized it was past the point of no return.

 

[PB37]

I know it's Jimmy Murphy, so take it with a very large grain of salt, but he's claiming that Sweeney wanted Cassidy back and fought for him and it was Neely who said no and forced him to fire him.

Either way, telling Bruce at exit meetings that he was safe then firing him 2 weeks later is unethical and going to be a black mark on Sweeney's integrity when trying to negotiate with agents and other GMs.

Rare instance where I actually agree with Murphy. Sweeney always struck me as a pro Cassidy guy.

Chia did the same thing with Dave Lewis after his awful first season. He publically stated that Lewis' job was safe and then fired him shortly after and Julien came on board. I'm sure this happens a lot more than we know. It's just the nature of the position, it's a fluid situation.

 

[LSCII]

Isn't it more gutless to keep around a manager(in this case head coach) that you feel needs to be replaced? Is it better that they keep someone around because they don't have the nerve to tell them their services are no longer wanted here?

To me this is Dave Lewis 2.0. The management's first instinct was to keep them, but the players had a mutiny during the exit meetings and management realized it was past the point of no return.

Except Dave Lewis was a bad coach who got bad results. In this case, Cassidy did what he could with a deeply flawed roster and was able to get that team into the playoffs every year and on a deep run a couple of times.

For the record, I do see the gutless nature of keeping a guy. Like when Sweeney did that with Claude initially. But I also see the gutlessness of telling a guy he's safe, making him then fire one of his assistants, and then turning around and firing him after he's been your hatchet man.

 

[Over the volcano]

It also speaks to the impetuous nature and lack of impulse control in Neely. This move has his finger prints all over it, IMO. Much like the bad deal they got in return for Seguin. Overly emotional to a fault. Guy is a clown.

I don't have a problem with it, Neeley just took away Sweeney's safety net.

Cassidy was always going to go first and Sweeney doesn't even have his contract for next year yet. The clock is ticking in so many ways. Dragging out next steps or waiting and seeing if the same approach for years would turn new results just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Kate08]

Isn't it more gutless to keep around a manager(in this case head coach) that you feel needs to be replaced? Is it better that they keep someone around because they don't have the nerve to tell them their services are no longer wanted here?

To me this is Dave Lewis 2.0. The management's first instinct was to keep them, but the players had a mutiny during the exit meetings and management realized it was past the point of no return.

Sure, if you feel he needs to be replaced, then replace him.

But what changed in those weeks between the end of the season and him being told that he was safe, and showing him the door?

It's the about face that's gutless in my opinion, not the decision.

 

[Over the volcano]

Sure, if you feel he needs to be replaced, then replace him.

But what changed in those weeks between the end of the season and him being told that he was safe, and showing him the door?

It's the about face that's gutless in my opinion, not the decision.

Sweeney had exit interviews with the players and a long time assistant coach decided to walk away from the organization after a year of conflict with Cassidy.

 

[Fenway]

Rare instance where I actually agree with Murphy. Sweeney always struck me as a pro Cassidy guy.

Chia did the same thing with Dave Lewis after his awful first season. He publically stated that Lewis' job was safe and then fired him shortly after and Julien came on board. I'm sure this happens a lot more than we know. It's just the nature of the position, it's a fluid situation.

Keep in mind Sweeney's contract ends on June 30th.... no extension announced yet.

That said Cam does what Buffalo wants and Papa still listens to Harry.

 

[Kate08]

Sweeny had exit interviews with the players and his assistant coach, who he sparred with this year, decided to walk away from the organization all together.

Then you don't tell someone they're safe if you don't have all the facts! It's management 101.

Just more teeth to the idea that Sweeney and Neely don't have a clear strategy or direction, IMO.

 

[rocketdan9]

Kevin Weekes on what's going on in Boston:

"I want to be respectful of everybody involved... I feel like things had run their course with coach Cassidy, who did a really nice job there. He brought in a lot of those young [Providence] players... but it had just run its' course in the dressing room. From speaking to different people, different players, it had just run its' course and had started grating on them a little bit. There were just enough influential players in that group that were essentially saying, 'hey, at this point we'd rather it be somebody else.' ... I just know from enough people there that it just got to the point where guys were just kind of over it - it started grating on guys a little bit too much."

Bergeron denied he had anything to do with the firing... apparently Marchand and Cassidy had a good rapport

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

I can’t believe we’re legitimately stuck with a-hole ownership who still listens to some 90 year old dinosaur who shouldn’t have been taken seriously 30 years ago. And the trickle down of shit to Neely and Sweeney?

f***ing. Woof.

 

[Over the volcano]

Then you don't tell someone they're safe if you don't have all the facts! It's management 101.

Just more teeth to the idea that Sweeney and Neely don't have a clear strategy or direction, IMO.

I hear you.

Also think maybe Cassidy heard a little bit more of what he wanted to than what Sweeney may have spoken. Looking forward to hearing the audio of Cassidy's press availability. He was never one to take much public responsibility for the failures of his club.

Bergeron denied he had anything to do with the firing... apparently Marchand and Cassidy had a good rapport

No way did Bergeron or Marchand ever say "we want him out" to Sweeney, too much professionalism with those guys toward Cassidy and Sweeney - but it's getting pretty clear what the dynamic was between the coach and the team. It was Sweeney's job (not Bergeron, or Marchand or any of the players) to hire and fire. So he did and took full responsibility for it.

 

[Fenway]

 

[Gee Wally]

like Chia and Z.

 

[BruinDust]

Sure, if you feel he needs to be replaced, then replace him.

But what changed in those weeks between the end of the season and him being told that he was safe, and showing him the door?

It's the about face that's gutless in my opinion, not the decision.

I guess it depends on what was uncovered during that time period. What was the magnitude of it. Or maybe it was already being considered but they didn't want to reveal that to Bruce in case they decided he would be returning 100%.

Personally I think 99% of NHL coaches wear thin with their players by Year 4 or 5, even if that coach is a great communicator and a player's coach.

 

[rocketdan9]

My observation is... Don didnt want to fire Cassidy. Don didnt say anything negative about Cassidy in his post exit

But Cam did point out a few things he didnt like about the way Cassidy coached/treated some of the younger players...

Maybe the Jacobs took this to heart and told Cam and Don to investigate the locker room...

Even Cassidy said today regarding young players... "when competing for a cup, not much room" (along these lines)

Its either Cassidy has failed to marry the old and new while mainting competitiveness. Or Sweeney hung him out to dry with the lack of depth in the system.

In order for Sweeney to save his butt and his draft choices etc. He had to pick the 1st choice and fire Cassidy.

Sweeney for his sake... next coach he hires will need to be a slam dunk. If neither the team makes the playoffs or youth impact. He is a goner ... I give him 2 years max

 

[Saxon Eric]

like Chia and Z.

I'll believe that when I see it