Management Charlie Jacobs, Bob Sweeney and Cam Neely speak to the media from the Bruins Black and Gold Gala

[JAD]

Yeah I’m not a fan of that answer. The team is 26th in the league in goals per game. Their power play is anemic and could benefit from a player who excels at zone entries.

If the team was winning despite a lack of offensive output, I could understand wanting to lean into that more straightforward, defense-oriented style of play. But they haven’t been.

What makes this answer all the more frustrating is the fact that after losing to the Panthers, Neely himself highlighted team speed as an area they needed to work on. He’s got what could be a potential answer in Lysell but he’d rather claim other teams’ unwanted players and call up the likes of McLaughlin than give the guy more than a 1 game showcase. How does that make any sense?

I understand your frustration. I also want to see Poitras, Lysell, and Merkulov get extended looks and opportunity with the big club.
I also understand the need for these player’s to develop physically along with their overall game.
The average weight of an NHL player is a little over 200lbs.
Look up Lysell's and Poitras body weight from the time they were drafted to where they are today.
Lysell weighs about 181lbs, Poitras around 180lbs ... Merkulov at age 24 weight 176lbs ... those weights are from several internet searches, could be wrong and not accurate. Idk, but if close ...
Even by AHL average weight 195lbs ... they all need to add body weight or at least develop a heavier stronger core and stablizer mucles or they run the risk of getting crushed in the NHL.
Yes, that could happen in the AHL, but players in the NHL tend to be quicker and finish their checks with more force than in the AHL.
We saw what happened with Poitras last year with his shoulder. Shoulder history aside.
I have no problem with letting talented kids develop physically in Providence.
I know we need them to be ready now.
But it's a greater risk in the NHL than in the minors.
I just hope they don't rush them out of desperation.
Way too often young player’s have their careers sidetracked or ruined by being rushed before they are ready and prepared to handle the physical abuse of the NHL.
Just my two cents.

 

[22Brad Park]

Please do not trade their round 1, or round 2 picks.
While they haven't been drafting very good lately, these should be the highest picks they have had for quite a while .

Bruins do not have a 2025 2nd round pick.Do not have a 4th either they dealt that to Redwings and Montreal now controls that option.They have a choice of picks and could take one Bruins traded .

 

[whatsbruin]

Bruins do not have a 2025 2nd round pick

I read the website I was using incorrectly, thanks.

 

[22Brad Park]

I read the website I was using incorrectly, thanks.

Np ..I added a bit more , hope u don't mind

 

[Number8]

IMO they want to win the cup because that means more $$$. IMO winning the cup means more than $$ to Cam.

Everyone wants to win the cup. Too bad there are not just 6 teams anymore

Amen, Susan. People have a right to question Neely’s performance as President by all means. However I hope hope hope that no one doubts what I bolded in your post above.

 

[Alicat]

Was Jeremy there ?

 

[Number8]

I am a long time Bs fan too.

#1 on my bucket list is to see the Bs win the cup on home ice with me there. I am 72 and the expense of the tickets is wearing me down...Plus the ride to and from NH is OK for now...but I am old.

They had better hurry....and I know this is not the year

I’m with you guys. Closest I’ve come was seeing Gretzky skate the Cup around the Garden in person. Super exciting to see Cup awarded and paraded in all its glory. Fantastic. Beyond that IT SUCKED THEN. STILL SUCKS NOW because now I’m thinking about Glen Wesley. Uggh

 

[Number8]

You'd think that a 7 figure salary and the prospect of retiring at 35 would be more than enough inspiration, but alas...

Yes, money is crazy. But show me a player who primarily worried about money and retirement who is also a Stanley Cup Winner and I’ll show you a Unicorn.

Yet, we can all list dozens and dozens of guys who HATE/HATED to lose and majority also Cup Winners. Oh what Cam Neely would do to be in the Cup Winners of that group. I’m honestly not sure any of us can actually imagine.

They are all human. Humans react to different motivation and sometimes need it from the outside.

Super glad I’m not an NHL Head Coach these days.

 

[Number8]

It's a cap world now ,so unless he is spending under it by alot then no he is not any cheaper then any other owner.

Agreed. Only thing I’d say is it is largely HIS cap world. Fair play now, but those years cost me great heartbreak as a Bruins fan and anger over shutdowns/strikes as a general hockey fan. He was singularly focused on that Cap (not a typo) even over The Cup for a long time and it was first and foremost focus, IMO.

The fact that he spends to the cap now is good, but lets not crazy. Given it’s HIS legacy to the economics of hockey (and I’m not necessarily saying the cap is a bad thing) and he’s in an original six city like Boston??? He doesn’t really have much of a choice.

Again, not arguing economics of hockey. Just will always sad over what it cost this Boston Bruins fan.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I'm going to tread carefully here. Nobody wishes anything but good health for Jacobs Sr., but as you say time does run up on all of us. I wish him and his family good health and nothing but.

I agree that it seems that Jacobs wanted two Cups and probably isn't going to get them. However, IMO that is nothing to lament as far as he goes. (By the way, I'm not suggesting that is what you are doing here).

50 years is a long time. Several HHOF players came through Boston. Couple of near misses over that time. But any fan (or player) worth his or her salt knows that Championships are special, rare, require total dedication, and sometimes for the stars to align just right.

Requires singular focus.

In the meantime, for years JJ fought an almost solo battle for his Holy Grail -- the salary cap and that carried a non monetary cost. He succeeded, and owners across the league benefited greatly, as did he. We all make choices. Some owners want to win. Some owners want to make money. Some want both. JJ is one of the later two in my view, with an emphasis first and foremost on $. As I say, choices.

Just my opinion as a 50 year witness to Jacob's ownership track in Boston.

Yeah I agree 100%. For JJ I don't think it's ever just been about making money, nor has the goal ever been as simple as 'just make playoffs'. When Charlie says repeatedly that they want a Cup I believe him. BUT the way they want to go about winning that Cup has always had two non-negotiable conditions - the franchise must consistently make a good profit and it must remain consistently competitive year on year if at all possible, because the latter assures the former. With very rare exceptions (2023 perhaps), long term profitability and financial security cannot be sacrificed chasing short-term on ice success. So management have had to operate and handle the roster mostly within those restrictions. As a business model it makes a lot of sense, in terms of winning trophies though it has some limitations.

I sometimes wonder how Sweeney would operate if he had absolute free rein. He strikes me as someone who's innately quite cautious and conservative, which is of course partly why he's so suited to managing Boston. But despite that he would perhaps do some things differently if he could. Unless he one day winds up as GM somewhere else, we'll probably never find out.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Please do not trade their round 1, or round 2 picks.
While they haven't been drafting very good lately, these should be the highest picks they have had for quite a while .

They don’t have a second.

They’ve been drafting very well lately.

 

[Fenian24]

I was listening to NHL Radio today and they had on Shane Malloy their draft expert. He states this is the weakest draft post lock out and the weakest he can remember since 1999. I don't have a huge problem using what will hopefully be a pick in the 20's to improve this team, ideally for a player with some term on his contract but I can deal with a rental, It sounds like the normal gamble that is drafting is going to be even more of a gamble this year to find a guy that will have any value. I really don't need another Duran or Kuntar in the organization.