Management Don Sweeney - State of the Bruins - 2/23/25

[McGarnagle]

 

[Eddie Munson]

In a cap league, you need players whose production exceeds their cap hit.

The Bruins don’t have enough players who are good value on this roster. And the ones they do are not big enough different makers to move the needle.

Yes, the salary cap will go up, but it goes up for all teams. Those extra dollars will go pretty quickly in free agency.

I think people overstate the impact of the cap going up forgetting as you said that it goes up for all teams AND salaries are all relative as they typically use cap % as a comp versus cap hit.

 

[Therewolf31]

I think it's clear that Sweeney sees and understands the cyclical nature of success in a cap driven league - you're bad for a while, and if you draft and add the right mix of free agents, trades and have some luck without sustaining injuries and get a few players who overachieve in a given year you can claw your way back up. Last year there weren't any significant injuries and many players overachieved, and we all had a good time.

But this year, those overachievers are underachieving, we have some significant injuries and the free agents and adds have not worked out as well as Sweeney had hoped - Riley Tufte, Max Jones, Koepke and Patrick Brown have provided next to nothing resulting in a big difference in performance from last year's Grizz, Boqvist, DeBrusk, Heinen and even Van Riemsdyk who were let go with nothing in return.

Add the fact that Fabien Lysell and anyone from Providence have not managed to make an impact (which includes Poitras and even Lorei to an extent) and here is where we are.

All that said, I think Sweeney overall still believes he has a capable roster who in any given year, with a bit of luck and some improvements given what I've mentioned above can compete. He was clear in the presser that he won't be resigning he UFA's other than possibly Marchand - that means say goodbye to Frederic, Tufte, Koepke, Brazeau, maybe even Parker Wotherspoon.

I think Sweeney believes that if he was able to exchange a few of what he deems as "strengths" for a few draft picks and maybe a couple of players who can contribute better next year he will consider it a successful off season and hope for the best in terms of injuries, Elias Lindholm providing more, Poitras, Lorei and maybe Lysell contributing more etc.

Of course, all this remains to be seen, as well as what Sweeney considers as the Bruins' "strengths" he can let go ... is it Korpisalo? Both Bussi and DiPietro are free agants so there's a decision to be made there - is it 3rd liners like Coyle who he might feel can be replaced by a free agent or trade? Depth defensemen? All to be determined.

It'll be an interesting deadline and off season, but I'm not expecting huge movement unfortunately.

I for one would like the kids to get a fair shot in the bigs. 20-25 games would be telling IMHO. I'm all for trading Korpisalo and bringing up DiPietro. Give the B's a bit more cap space even if they retain some salary

 

[nORRis8]

It certainly feels like he’s going to skate on this season, doesn’t it?

I’ve rarely found somebody who uses more words and says less.

Sacco will be left holding the bag.

So true.
Or dodging or pretending not knowing what the words "sell off" mean when it comes to team management when asked.

 

[HumBucker]

On forwards Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak not practicing...
“Well, Brad’s been given a little more time off, coming off 4 Nations, and David's playing a lot of hockey. You take advantage of two days, two days, every once in a while, to dispel players and allow him to be at his best. He'll be back on the ice tomorrow.”

Pasta just had 2 weeks off!

 

[smithformeragent]

After years of win-now moves, Don Sweeney and the Bruins seem ready to wave white flag

After years of win-now moves, it looks as though the bill is about to come due for Don Sweeney and the Bruisn this season.

www.boston.com

…Those efforts resulted in names like Lee Stempniak, Drew Stafford, Rick Nash, Charlie Coyle, Marcus Johansson, Ondrej Kase, Taylor Hall, Hampus Lindholm, Dmitry Orlov, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Patrick Maroon all donning black-and-gold sweaters.

Some did little to reverse Boston’s fortunes, like Stempniak in 2016. Others, like Johansson, played key roles in getting the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

Several became lineup regulars like Coyle and Lindholm, while Orlov and Bertuzzi bolstered a record-setting roster in 2023.

But those efforts did not end with Chara or Bergeron hoisting hockey’s greatest prize beyond that one fateful night in Vancouver.

And as admirable as those attempts were to push Boston toward another Stanley Cup, the bill was inevitably set to come due — with years spent cashing out on first-round picks and whiffing on what few selections they had leaving the team’s prospect pool barren….

The Bruins, as currently constituted, have a solid foundation in place with a 60-goal winger in David Pastrnak, top-pairing defenseman in Charlie McAvoy, and a promising netminder in Jeremy Swayman all in their prime and signed to long-term deals.


But the rest of Boston’s depth chart is encumbered with so much bloat, underperforming assets, and a dearth of young talent, that whatever promise resonated with this team in September has regressed into a miserable product on the ice.

Changes need to be made, and draft capital must be recouped (and most importantly, properly utilized).

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Pasta just had 2 weeks off!

This is actually pretty funny that he needs two days off after sitting on his ass for two weeks.

Nice to see they are all in for the Leafs tomorrow. God help us

Brad I can see with his dust up with the boards, 4nations ? he played 4rth line minutes with the second half of the tournament at home.

Probably still trying to recover from his hangover

I hope we don't get embarrassed at home

 

[lopey]

What if he doesn’t want to be traded but also doesn’t want to commit to an extension?

His choice. As i said he earned it

 

[goldenblack]

If they shut down Charlie, I'll be so mad if they don't use all their cap space to acquire picks.

 

[TD Charlie]

I thought he handled the questions regarding injuries and Marchand very professionally. I will give him credit for that much I guess.

To me, he's coming across as disappointed by the realization that this team isn't worth buying for at the TDL.

 

[TD Charlie]

If they shut down Charlie, I'll be so mad if they don't use all their cap space to acquire picks.

I think Sweeney is too proud to do it. The bottom feeders do that sort of thing, and Sweeney doesn't strike me as the type of guy that's gonna turn around and admit defeat this season, when he thinks they've been *SO close to a cup the last several years.

You aren't wrong though. They should absolutely take advantage of the scenario however possible

 

[Bruin4]

I think people overstate the impact of the cap going up forgetting as you said that it goes up for all teams AND salaries are all relative as they typically use cap % as a comp versus cap hit.

Cap going up scares me with Sweeney handing out the deals to pending UFA.

 

[Bruin4]

If they shut down Charlie, I'll be so mad if they don't use all their cap space to acquire picks.

The writing is so on the wall with this team, since Christmas, their 8-11-3 — tied for 27th in the NHL over two months. Boston plays Toronto, the Islanders, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Nashville and Carolina before the trade deadline. I don't see that record improving, Sweeney needs to use that LTIR to his clubs advantage, and trade away his pending UFA for futures and the sooner the better.

 

[BMC]

Cap going up scares me with Sweeney handing out the deals to pending UFA.

This^

I don't trust his drafting either. Should the Bruins somehow end up with an excellent 2025 draft position Sweeney will find a way to squander it.

 

[DKH]

I am not supporting, or firing the guy, but there must be some empathy out there for Sacco, this guy has been put in an awful situation, because of the shitty job others have done.

FODKH “Monty quit on team cost them two months”

Sad

 

[Hookslide]

FODKH “Monty quit on team cost them two months”

Sad

You might be right about Monty, but I truly believe there are more than one guilty party to this mess, and it all started offseason festered its way into camp and then regular season. By the way I have no freakn idea what FODKH means.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

If they shut down Charlie, I'll be so mad if they don't use all their cap space to acquire picks.

Is trading cap space for picks even a thing?

 

[Bruin4]

Is trading cap space for picks even a thing?

It is by taking on a portion of a players salary in a 3 team deal. Only thing is I don't want the Bruins to take on so much where it hampers them in future moves. Id much rather just have them Retain on their own players (UFA) for those picks, unless its an expiring contract their taking on from another team.

 

[ODAAT]

actually liked what I heard from Sweeney, move the UFA`s outta here, get some draft capital , no way he`s making any aggressive moves, simply not the time

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

The team he built has so little skill. Seems to be trying to plug a square peg into a round hole.
Sacco sucks, hope he's gone in the offseason.
I get they've missed Hampus pretty much all season but he's not going to solve the lack of scoring.

Still baffles me Lysell or Merk haven't been given an extended opportunity with how bad this team is to watch.

Has anyone enjoyed watching a Bruins game this season? I find them oh so boring yet still tune into 90% of them.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

If they shut down Charlie, I'll be so mad if they don't use all their cap space to acquire picks.

As long as Donnie is gone before the draft... last thing the Bruins need is another Senyshyn or Lysell

 

[EverettMike]

FODKH “Monty quit on team cost them two months”

Sad

As always, Don Sweeney can never fail. He can only be failed.

#NeverSweeneysFault #TeflonDon

(If you could share those hashtags in the infamous text chain I'd appreciate it please and thank you.)

 

[Coach Parker]

Meh, team was barely watchable with these guys, can't imagine it'll be worth watching the rest of the way. Snoozefest games as players desperately try to help Pastrnak score (the D) while the overpaid plugs in the top six coast along.

Even when Charlie and Lindholm where in the picture this team couldn't score. They are not the excuse.

 

[Beyonder]

FODKH “Monty quit on team cost them two months”

Sad

IMO it's a perfect storm situation.

There's something pretty off with the current roster construction. It's just not a very good team and it doesn't add up to being a legit playoff contender. That's the main issue. IMHO.

But Montgomery seemed completely baffled about what to do with that situation. Towards the end, he frequently said, "I have no idea what to do." Can't have that from the head coach even if it's true. So, he was also the wrong coach for the team in its current situation. Not a lot has gone right with this season.

Here's the $64K question, or $373,222 adjusted for inflation: What SHOULD Sweeney do at this deadline and is he the GM to get it done?

Are they are going to go for the rapid turnaround next season? Are they going to do a reset and try to load up some youth? They have to be decisive whichever way they go and step 1 has a deadline of next Friday. The one thing they cannot do is tinker with the current group (i.e., not make major changes) and expect better results. Help is needed all over this roster.

My wishes for the trade deadline are: 1) Create as much cap space as possible heading into the summer, 2) Jettison as many veterans as possible who are not likely to be real contributors to the team going forward and/or will cost too much to justify keeping around, 3) Don't end up in no man's land, "buyers AND sellers" (meaning adding meh vets at least in a grim bid for short term success), that kind of bs, pick a direction and go at it hard.

 

[mjhfb]

Personally I'm interested to see how he handles this failed roster and season. He might stockpile picks, selectively target specific players that can help immediately, or sit on his hands and watch the rest of the league make deals. Like he said again today, its a results business, and that includes his results. So we'll see.