Bruins Year-End News Conference (complete video)

[Fenway]

Here is raw unedited footage of the end of season news conference with Sweeney and Cassidy.

Click to read more...

 

[JAD]

I enjoyed watching, thanks for posting.

 

[Dr Hook]

Thanks for posting that Fenway- I enjoyed it also. Not a lot that we didn't already know but a couple of interesting tidbits I took away:

Backes likely to remain at wing? It seemed that was the message. Tuuka evaluating for a possible surgery- ugh. Good news on the injury front overall, though.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Jimmy Hayes, and I liked Cassidy's candidness about Beleskey. It makes me think they aren't looking to actively shop him this summer, but want to see if he can get back to form.

 

[PB37]

Posting some cliff notes:

Sweeney
- I feel comfortable quickly naming Butch as the head coach. Vets and young kids responded well. Staff did a good job

- We need to be a deeper, more talented team and the onus begins right here in this chair. Taking one step forward is a good step but it's not successful. A lot of work to do in a lot of areas. Younger players need to grow and if they're not good enough they need to be more prepared and will spend more time in Providence.

- Lots of decisions to make, expansion draft planning to go over with.

- Important step to make the playoffs this year, especially for the younger players.

- Bruce did a good job turning up the pace from day 1

- Middle part of lineup needs more consistency and be better at. Top line is one of the best in the league. Krejci should be commended for playing 82 games after surgery but started off slow. Transitional puck play is an area they want to improve at. Backup goaltender needs to be better. Lots of strain on the team early in the year, but Anton and Butch should get credit for turning it around at the end

- Staff did a very good job and will stay as is and will look to add to it. Already received some interest from people ( in terms of staff additions )

- RFA/UFA group: No decisions yet. We have an idea with expansion going forward

- Last few years we've identified guys who we feel can grow with us. Putting young players in the lineup just because they're young is not the right thing to do. They have to push other players out of a job.

- Ryan Spooner: TBD as far as his future with the team is. He struggled down the stretch. Playoffs was tight and it was a battleground to win.

- Buyouts are always a tool but no firm decisions

- The team was well prepared every night with Bruce. Teacher of the game

- Pasta had a great season but the playoffs are a next step up in challenge and it was his first experience at it.

- Morrow did a very good job for us playing 20 minutes a night in the playoffs

- Bruce signed a multi year deal

- Rask: Tremendous start to the year. Rode him too hard in the middle of the season. Finished on a high note. Injury problems he battled through and once he got some rest came back as a better player

- Not sure but are leaning to 7/3/1 for the expansion draft

- Backes: Player interviews, players said what an impact he was in the locker room. Got off to a great start. Couple of injurues set him back. Backes told him he was overwhelmed with the move to Boston and the differences of being somewhere new. May stay at wing but provides that depth at center too.

- Scott Bradley will oversee the draft again.

- Chara: no discussions yet as far as contract. Had a very good year. Loved the mentoring role. Elevated his play in the playoffs, but played more than what we wanted him to play. Invaluable in the matchup role but father time catches us all. We'll continue to have discussions and won't doubt he can still play at a high level beyond this year.

- Backes: Bruce will dictate if Backes is a center or wing. Advantage of ours that he can play multiple positions well.

- Nash and Moore fit in real well and were great penalty killers for our team.

- McAvoy and Bjork will be on team usa. Pasta team czech

- Bjork: He has not decided what he wants to do. Team wants him to come here but it's Bjork's call.

- Bergeron: He'll take time to decide about surgery. Same with Rask. Vatrano will have his foot looked at. KMiller needs tests on his shoulder and bicep. No surgery for Krug. McQuaid doesn't need surgery, just time.

- backup goaltending: zane came up and had a couple of games where he thought he has it but then would slip. anton still in the mix and how he played down the stretch is the goalie we need. Patience with the development of the young kids but they're very aware that it's been an issue the past couple of seasons.




Bruce

- Thankful and proud to be with the team he followed since he was a boy. Core vet leadership gave him the opportunity to earn their respect and he can't thank them enough.

- 14 years since Washington and he's grown as a person and as a coach. Being part of Providence and seeing the '11 team from the sidelines really helped integrate himself to the culture again.

- I was given an opportunity and it was my job to be prepared. I've been around since training camp so I already had an idea of player's strengths and what they needed to work on. Talked about right away upgrading the transition game and attack faster - our description of what it means to playing fast. We can start day 1 now in training camp. We'll have player exit interviews and see what they have to say in their opinion on how to get better

- My job to get them to be better players ( Hayes, Beleksey ). Hayes was a -12 when I took over and he got back to even. Didn't bring the offense but contributed in other ways. Went with a forechecker presence in Stafford than Hayes. With Beleskey, there's a challenge. We made a commitment to him as a player. Needs to get back to the player he was. Sat him down after the year and told him he needs to be ready to go from day 1 physically and conditioning wise. Clearly we need more from them

 

[SPLBRUIN]

Posting some cliff notes:

Sweeney
- I feel comfortable quickly naming Butch as the head coach. Vets and young kids responded well. Staff did a good job

- We need to be a deeper, more talented team and the onus begins right here in this chair. Taking one step forward is a good step but it's not successful. A lot of work to do in a lot of areas. Younger players need to grow and if they're not good enough they need to be more prepared and will spend more time in Providence.

- Lots of decisions to make, expansion draft planning to go over with.

- Important step to make the playoffs this year, especially for the younger players.

- Bruce did a good job turning up the pace from day 1

- Middle part of lineup needs more consistency and be better at. Top line is one of the best in the league. Krejci should be commended for playing 82 games after surgery but started off slow. Transitional puck play is an area they want to improve at. Backup goaltender needs to be better. Lots of strain on the team early in the year, but Anton and Butch should get credit for turning it around at the end

- Staff did a very good job and will stay as is and will look to add to it. Already received some interest from people ( in terms of staff additions )

- RFA/UFA group: No decisions yet. We have an idea with expansion going forward

- Last few years we've identified guys who we feel can grow with us. Putting young players in the lineup just because they're young is not the right thing to do. They have to push other players out of a job.

- Ryan Spooner: TBD as far as his future with the team is. He struggled down the stretch. Playoffs was tight and it was a battleground to win.

- Buyouts are always a tool but no firm decisions

- The team was well prepared every night with Bruce. Teacher of the game

- Pasta had a great season but the playoffs are a next step up in challenge and it was his first experience at it.

- Morrow did a very good job for us playing 20 minutes a night in the playoffs

- Bruce signed a multi year deal

- Rask: Tremendous start to the year. Rode him too hard in the middle of the season. Finished on a high note. Injury problems he battled through and once he got some rest came back as a better player

- Not sure but are leaning to 7/3/1 for the expansion draft

- Backes: Player interviews, players said what an impact he was in the locker room. Got off to a great start. Couple of injurues set him back. Backes told him he was overwhelmed with the move to Boston and the differences of being somewhere new. May stay at wing but provides that depth at center too.

- Scott Bradley will oversee the draft again.

- Chara: no discussions yet as far as contract. Had a very good year. Loved the mentoring role. Elevated his play in the playoffs, but played more than what we wanted him to play. Invaluable in the matchup role but father time catches us all. We'll continue to have discussions and won't doubt he can still play at a high level beyond this year.

- Backes: Bruce will dictate if Backes is a center or wing. Advantage of ours that he can play multiple positions well.

- Nash and Moore fit in real well and were great penalty killers for our team.

- McAvoy and Bjork will be on team usa. Pasta team czech

- Bjork: He has not decided what he wants to do. Team wants him to come here but it's Bjork's call.

- Bergeron: He'll take time to decide about surgery. Same with Rask. Vatrano will have his foot looked at. KMiller needs tests on his shoulder and bicep. No surgery for Krug. McQuaid doesn't need surgery, just time.

- backup goaltending: zane came up and had a couple of games where he thought he has it but then would slip. anton still in the mix and how he played down the stretch is the goalie we need. Patience with the development of the young kids but they're very aware that it's been an issue the past couple of seasons.




Bruce

- Thankful and proud to be with the team he followed since he was a boy. Core vet leadership gave him the opportunity to earn their respect and he can't thank them enough.

- 14 years since Washington and he's grown as a person and as a coach. Being part of Providence and seeing the '11 team from the sidelines really helped integrate himself to the culture again.

- I was given an opportunity and it was my job to be prepared. I've been around since training camp so I already had an idea of player's strengths and what they needed to work on. Talked about right away upgrading the transition game and attack faster - our description of what it means to playing fast. We can start day 1 now in training camp. We'll have player exit interviews and see what they have to say in their opinion on how to get better

- My job to get them to be better players ( Hayes, Beleksey ). Hayes was a -12 when I took over and he got back to even. Didn't bring the offense but contributed in other ways. Went with a forechecker presence in Stafford than Hayes. With Beleskey, there's a challenge. We made a commitment to him as a player. Needs to get back to the player he was. Sat him down after the year and told him he needs to be ready to go from day 1 physically and conditioning wise. Clearly we need more from them

Thanks for the recap, that's a lot of work.

 

[DKH]

Outstanding and ties up like 10 threads on this Board

Kevin Paul DuPont was all over this and gets a stick salute

Takeaways

1. Scott Bradley is heading up Amateur Scouting

My view- great choice

2. Joe Morrow impressed Sweeney the way he jumped in and played

My view- agree; played at a high level in hotly contested games. He's a top 6 NHL defenseman to me

3. Expansion Draft

They are going 7-3-1

4. Adam McQuaid & Kevan Miller

McQuaid had a neck not concussion

Miller played with bicep/shoulder injury

My view- glad McQuaid didn't have another concussion & if Kevan Miller played that well banged up I'm impressed

5. Matt Beleskey

Cassidy seems to like him and he's a guy he's focused on getting the 'dead cat' bounce back

Look for a leaner Beleskey- Cassidy said he's a good player when healthy and can get there but injuries need to be cleared up

My view- agree with Cassidy assessment

6. Ryan Spooner

Sweeney said Backes sees himself during exit interviews as a winger but ultimately it will be Cassidy call. He mentioned talking to Spooner rep and seeing where at. Considering Cassidy talked about a healthy Beleskey type game I would think Spooner will not be back

7. Bjork

He said if he's interested leaving school they are here for him but with a smile and emphasis when asked about talking to Bjork it was 'family advisor'

8. Backup Goalie - Sweeney driving to WB this afternoon to watch McIntyre. My take away he really wants this kid to take it.

9. Buy Out - would consider but needs to evaluate all ramifications

10. Assistants- all will be back and likely to bring in another assistant

11. Bet on Chara playing past contract

No Haggs or Ty.

I'm sure someone covered it for WEEI and CSN

 

[rocketdan9]

These reporters questions lack depth

Wanted to hear more about the sens series and what went wrong...

As expected 99 percent vanilla answers...sigh looks like Beleskey will be back next season (unless vegas grabs him)

 

[rocketdan9]

Hopefully felger and mazz can beat out some more info from Neely

 

[PB37]

It does sound like they're going to give Beleskey a chance redeem himself, get into shape, and rebound from that awful year. If he can, that would solve our third line/LW problem. I would take a 15 goal/15 assist/200 hit/ hard nosed guy on the third line any day of the week.

 

[DKH]

These reporters questions lack depth

Wanted to hear more about the sens series and what went wrong...

As expected 99 percent vanilla answers...sigh looks like Beleskey will be back next season (unless vegas grabs him)

You could not be more wrong

 

[Fenway]

These reporters questions lack depth

Wanted to hear more about the sens series and what went wrong...

As expected 99 percent vanilla answers...sigh looks like Beleskey will be back next season (unless vegas grabs him)

Sounded like KPD asked half the questions.

 

[rocketdan9]

You could not be more wrong

Thats what you think sir

 

[JCRO]

Hopefully felger and mazz can beat out some more info from Neely

Are they having him on today/tonight?

 

[DKH]

Sounded like KPD asked half the questions.

He did

Loftus Kalmen and Conroy were on the video and KDP & Fluto were off to side

 

[JAD]

It does sound like they're going to give Beleskey a chance redeem himself, get into shape, and rebound from that awful year. If he can, that would solve our third line/LW problem. I would take a 15 goal/15 assist/200 hit/ hard nosed guy on the third line any day of the week.

Yeah, Belesky can be a serviceable player. From what I saw this year it appeared early on that he wasn't in the best of shape, then he got injured and never really seemed to get up to speed afterwards. Sounds like Cassidy and Sweeney saw and had the same thoughts. Give him the summer to get healthy and in shape then see if he comes to camp hungry with something to prove. Depending on how the prospects progress / trades - at worst Belesky is depth or future trade asset.

 

[Chief Nine]

Thanks for posting Fenway. My takeaway is that Don Sweeney is in charge and Cassidy is his coach. Sweeney seems very confident and has a clear direction to where he wants to take the team and now seems to have the authority. Thought he and Cassidy were very honest (as they could be) with their answers.

Thought Cassidy's assessment of Beleskey was spot on. I think he's the right man for the job for sure.

Thanks VeddarRants and DKH for the excellent notes versions, they were perfect!

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

That was today?

I didn't know there was a parade today.

 

[cat400]

Posting some cliff notes:

Sweeney
- I feel comfortable quickly naming Butch as the head coach. Vets and young kids responded well. Staff did a good job

- We need to be a deeper, more talented team and the onus begins right here in this chair. Taking one step forward is a good step but it's not successful. A lot of work to do in a lot of areas. Younger players need to grow and if they're not good enough they need to be more prepared and will spend more time in Providence.

- Lots of decisions to make, expansion draft planning to go over with.

- Important step to make the playoffs this year, especially for the younger players.

- Bruce did a good job turning up the pace from day 1

- Middle part of lineup needs more consistency and be better at. Top line is one of the best in the league. Krejci should be commended for playing 82 games after surgery but started off slow. Transitional puck play is an area they want to improve at. Backup goaltender needs to be better. Lots of strain on the team early in the year, but Anton and Butch should get credit for turning it around at the end

- Staff did a very good job and will stay as is and will look to add to it. Already received some interest from people ( in terms of staff additions )

- RFA/UFA group: No decisions yet. We have an idea with expansion going forward

- Last few years we've identified guys who we feel can grow with us. Putting young players in the lineup just because they're young is not the right thing to do. They have to push other players out of a job.

- Ryan Spooner: TBD as far as his future with the team is. He struggled down the stretch. Playoffs was tight and it was a battleground to win.

- Buyouts are always a tool but no firm decisions

- The team was well prepared every night with Bruce. Teacher of the game

- Pasta had a great season but the playoffs are a next step up in challenge and it was his first experience at it.

- Morrow did a very good job for us playing 20 minutes a night in the playoffs

- Bruce signed a multi year deal

- Rask: Tremendous start to the year. Rode him too hard in the middle of the season. Finished on a high note. Injury problems he battled through and once he got some rest came back as a better player

- Not sure but are leaning to 7/3/1 for the expansion draft

- Backes: Player interviews, players said what an impact he was in the locker room. Got off to a great start. Couple of injurues set him back. Backes told him he was overwhelmed with the move to Boston and the differences of being somewhere new. May stay at wing but provides that depth at center too.

- Scott Bradley will oversee the draft again.

- Chara: no discussions yet as far as contract. Had a very good year. Loved the mentoring role. Elevated his play in the playoffs, but played more than what we wanted him to play. Invaluable in the matchup role but father time catches us all. We'll continue to have discussions and won't doubt he can still play at a high level beyond this year.

- Backes: Bruce will dictate if Backes is a center or wing. Advantage of ours that he can play multiple positions well.

- Nash and Moore fit in real well and were great penalty killers for our team.

- McAvoy and Bjork will be on team usa. Pasta team czech

- Bjork: He has not decided what he wants to do. Team wants him to come here but it's Bjork's call.

- Bergeron: He'll take time to decide about surgery. Same with Rask. Vatrano will have his foot looked at. KMiller needs tests on his shoulder and bicep. No surgery for Krug. McQuaid doesn't need surgery, just time.

- backup goaltending: zane came up and had a couple of games where he thought he has it but then would slip. anton still in the mix and how he played down the stretch is the goalie we need. Patience with the development of the young kids but they're very aware that it's been an issue the past couple of seasons.




Bruce

- Thankful and proud to be with the team he followed since he was a boy. Core vet leadership gave him the opportunity to earn their respect and he can't thank them enough.

- 14 years since Washington and he's grown as a person and as a coach. Being part of Providence and seeing the '11 team from the sidelines really helped integrate himself to the culture again.

- I was given an opportunity and it was my job to be prepared. I've been around since training camp so I already had an idea of player's strengths and what they needed to work on. Talked about right away upgrading the transition game and attack faster - our description of what it means to playing fast. We can start day 1 now in training camp. We'll have player exit interviews and see what they have to say in their opinion on how to get better

- My job to get them to be better players ( Hayes, Beleksey ). Hayes was a -12 when I took over and he got back to even. Didn't bring the offense but contributed in other ways. Went with a forechecker presence in Stafford than Hayes. With Beleskey, there's a challenge. We made a commitment to him as a player. Needs to get back to the player he was. Sat him down after the year and told him he needs to be ready to go from day 1 physically and conditioning wise. Clearly we need more from them

Thank you for the great wrap.

 

[KrejciMVP]

We have no choice with Beleskey and Hayes, who is going to take those deals.

Lucky millionaire Beleskey. His contract is such a bust he gets a free pass bc you feel bad for the guy .

 

[Gee Wally]

Bruins GM Don Sweeney: ‘The onus is right here in this chair’
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...-this-chair/HM9iDIQM****uUb5G6kIPL/story.html



Bruins will bring back all three assistants, look for a fourth
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...wEkJ/story.html?p1=Article_Recirculation_Pos1

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Still some salty folks round these parts it seems from some of these replies. Thanks for posting the recaps. I for one thought they were pretty honest and straight up, especially from Cassidy.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

hopefully we get to find out why krejci missed games 1 and 2.

 

[ODAAT]

These reporters questions lack depth

Wanted to hear more about the sens series and what went wrong...

As expected 99 percent vanilla answers...sigh looks like Beleskey will be back next season (unless vegas grabs him)

what more did/do you want to know about the Sens series?

Played down 3 D-men

Down one top 2 C

All games decided by 1 goal which was an outright miracle with the scenario above

Sweeney stated emphatically he wants this team to get deeper, not sure what hard hitting questions you wanted the media to ask about on this occasion?

“I go back to what our pro scout Adam Creighton said to everybody at the table at the trade deadline. He said, ‘We need to be a deeper, more talented team.’ That’s the bottom line,” said Sweeney at his year-end press conference Thursday. “And the onus is on right here, in this chair.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...y_bruins_still_in_search_of_more_depth_talent

Love this quote

 

[Midship]

Posting some cliff notes:

Sweeney
- I feel comfortable quickly naming Butch as the head coach. Vets and young kids responded well. Staff did a good job

- We need to be a deeper, more talented team and the onus begins right here in this chair. Taking one step forward is a good step but it's not successful. A lot of work to do in a lot of areas. Younger players need to grow and if they're not good enough they need to be more prepared and will spend more time in Providence.

- Lots of decisions to make, expansion draft planning to go over with.

- Important step to make the playoffs this year, especially for the younger players.

- Bruce did a good job turning up the pace from day 1

- Middle part of lineup needs more consistency and be better at. Top line is one of the best in the league. Krejci should be commended for playing 82 games after surgery but started off slow. Transitional puck play is an area they want to improve at. Backup goaltender needs to be better. Lots of strain on the team early in the year, but Anton and Butch should get credit for turning it around at the end

- Staff did a very good job and will stay as is and will look to add to it. Already received some interest from people ( in terms of staff additions )

- RFA/UFA group: No decisions yet. We have an idea with expansion going forward

- Last few years we've identified guys who we feel can grow with us. Putting young players in the lineup just because they're young is not the right thing to do. They have to push other players out of a job.

- Ryan Spooner: TBD as far as his future with the team is. He struggled down the stretch. Playoffs was tight and it was a battleground to win.

- Buyouts are always a tool but no firm decisions

- The team was well prepared every night with Bruce. Teacher of the game

- Pasta had a great season but the playoffs are a next step up in challenge and it was his first experience at it.

- Morrow did a very good job for us playing 20 minutes a night in the playoffs

- Bruce signed a multi year deal

- Rask: Tremendous start to the year. Rode him too hard in the middle of the season. Finished on a high note. Injury problems he battled through and once he got some rest came back as a better player

- Not sure but are leaning to 7/3/1 for the expansion draft

- Backes: Player interviews, players said what an impact he was in the locker room. Got off to a great start. Couple of injurues set him back. Backes told him he was overwhelmed with the move to Boston and the differences of being somewhere new. May stay at wing but provides that depth at center too.

- Scott Bradley will oversee the draft again.

- Chara: no discussions yet as far as contract. Had a very good year. Loved the mentoring role. Elevated his play in the playoffs, but played more than what we wanted him to play. Invaluable in the matchup role but father time catches us all. We'll continue to have discussions and won't doubt he can still play at a high level beyond this year.

- Backes: Bruce will dictate if Backes is a center or wing. Advantage of ours that he can play multiple positions well.

- Nash and Moore fit in real well and were great penalty killers for our team.

- McAvoy and Bjork will be on team usa. Pasta team czech

- Bjork: He has not decided what he wants to do. Team wants him to come here but it's Bjork's call.

- Bergeron: He'll take time to decide about surgery. Same with Rask. Vatrano will have his foot looked at. KMiller needs tests on his shoulder and bicep. No surgery for Krug. McQuaid doesn't need surgery, just time.

- backup goaltending: zane came up and had a couple of games where he thought he has it but then would slip. anton still in the mix and how he played down the stretch is the goalie we need. Patience with the development of the young kids but they're very aware that it's been an issue the past couple of seasons.




Bruce

- Thankful and proud to be with the team he followed since he was a boy. Core vet leadership gave him the opportunity to earn their respect and he can't thank them enough.

- 14 years since Washington and he's grown as a person and as a coach. Being part of Providence and seeing the '11 team from the sidelines really helped integrate himself to the culture again.

- I was given an opportunity and it was my job to be prepared. I've been around since training camp so I already had an idea of player's strengths and what they needed to work on. Talked about right away upgrading the transition game and attack faster - our description of what it means to playing fast. We can start day 1 now in training camp. We'll have player exit interviews and see what they have to say in their opinion on how to get better

- My job to get them to be better players ( Hayes, Beleksey ). Hayes was a -12 when I took over and he got back to even. Didn't bring the offense but contributed in other ways. Went with a forechecker presence in Stafford than Hayes. With Beleskey, there's a challenge. We made a commitment to him as a player. Needs to get back to the player he was. Sat him down after the year and told him he needs to be ready to go from day 1 physically and conditioning wise. Clearly we need more from them

Thanks for this!

 

[rocketdan9]

what more did/do you want to know about the Sens series?

Played down 3 D-men

Down one top 2 C

All games decided by 1 goal which was an outright miracle with the scenario above

Sweeney stated emphatically he wants this team to get deeper, not sure what hard hitting questions you wanted the media to ask about on this occasion?

Questions

1) For Bruce: succeeded winning a few away, why do you think the team was unable to win at home?

2) For Bruce: It seemed penalties were one of the factors , the team lost in the playoffs. How you make players accountable to prevent these type of penalties moving forward?

3) For Don: In terms of offseason moves/trades since becoming the gm.. how do you feel about it?

4) For Don: If there was one area the team needs help in...what would you say? team needs to add speed (quicker skaters)? more offensive minded Ds? How do you plan to address these issues?



Yes some of these questions are borderline "grilling" ... but there is nothing wrong with adding some pressure to these two