Management Don Sweeney V

[the overrated]

Yes because that's how you keep a job in and NHL front office. Seriously that might legitimately be the stupidest statement I've read on here in awhile.

How do you win in today's NHL? A mix of core vets and guys on ELC's/second contracts. This team needed the latter desperately.

Sweeney has his warts, and we can debate if he's a good GM till we're blue in the face (still too early to tell), but he immediately recognized that the team that Chiarelli left him was unsustainable. Getting assets back for Lucic who they were never going to re-sign was the right move. Getting assets back for a malcontent who supposedly wasn't going to re-sign in Hamilton was the right move, even if he undersold.

He has work to do, but I personally think this team is in a much better position now than it was 22 months ago when he took over.

There's trying to rebuild and make the playoffs while staying the course, and there's trading away assets for bandaid fixes, high priced vets, and killing your prospect pool in the process. The latter is not what this team should be doing, even though people want to ship out young defensemen for Gabriel ****ing Landeskog (Who I do like).

I was being hyperbolic, and I really didn't think that anyone would take that comment at all literally. It was an over-the-top response to DKH's saying that the GM isn't willing to make the playoffs "at any cost"; Sweeney so far hasn't shown an interest in making the playoffs at all, so I took it to the furthest extreme.

With that said: Can you clarify what you mean when you say "this team"? Because if you only mean the actual Boston Bruins, I am not sure that I agree that the team is better now than when Sweeney took over. If you're including the full organization, so including all prospects, then I agree.

 

[DKH]

I think Sweeney does not want to do any short term deal at the deadline

However Neely is the boss and seems on the hot seat

 

[Hamilton Brian]

I think Sweeney does not want to do any short term deal at the deadline

However Neely is the boss and seems on the hot seat

Who will overrule his deadline deal for Vermette, or whomever Chia was ready to spring for?

 

[TheBigBadB]

I think Sweeney does not want to do any short term deal at the deadline

However Neely is the boss and seems on the hot seat

As much as the "insiders" believe Neely is the crux of all evil, either Donnie has no spine and is a yes man or he quits saying I can't do what is right. As long as he goes along with any bad decisions then he should be held accountable too.

Though saying that, they are in a truly tough spot. They are close to the playoffs and it's hard to sell and explain that to Jacobs. It sucks. They needed to be firmly in or out. This is just going to lead to continue mediocrity until they crash and burn or Sweeneys picks start contributing immediately

 

[JRull86]

I was being hyperbolic, and I really didn't think that anyone would take that comment at all literally. It was an over-the-top response to DKH's saying that the GM isn't willing to make the playoffs "at any cost"; Sweeney so far hasn't shown an interest in making the playoffs at all, so I took it to the furthest extreme.

With that said: Can you clarify what you mean when you say "this team"? Because if you only mean the actual Boston Bruins, I am not sure that I agree that the team is better now than when Sweeney took over. If you're including the full organization, so including all prospects, then I agree.

Yeah the organization as a whole, not the current NHL Bruins.

I mean when evaluating the GM, you have to take the full spectrum into consideration. That includes current NHL roster, AHL depth, and current draft picks playing in various leagues. I personally think Sweeney and CO have done a phenomenal job adding quality prospects, which is something Chiarelli for the most part never could do, aside from the no brainer picks of Seguin/Hamilton.

 

[DKH]

Who will overrule his deadline deal for Vermette, or whomever Chia was ready to spring for?

Pretty confident this accurate or very close

Neely had it for Chiarelli and his guy Claude once he became President. Remember Neely comment on 98.5 about Claude coaching to win 0-0 and Chiarelli comment about Claude is his coach as long as he's here

Chiarelli had to be kicking himself to take this job and not cover this scenario

Chiarelli under normal circumstances where there is no Neely and he is President of Hockey Operations wouldn't even think of a Yandle-Vermette deal

But he was trying to make the playoffs and his job

By all reports it was very short term deal and had multiple picks including Boston's first in 2015

Neely was much stronger with ownership at that time than he is now 2 years later going on the second DNQ for playoffs since he forced Chiarelli out

Now Neely is on shaky ground and I'm not sure who would kill a Vermette deal so since it benefits Neely more and logically goes against what Sweeney has said

Maybe Sweeney says I'm not doing it? Sweeney is a Claude guy and doesn't appear to be backing Neely to fire Claude. These 2 wins and their fight back shows they aren't quitting on Julien the way Crosby and company took out Mike Johnson last year

My opinion talking to people including some who are well thought of here as members even if predominately lurk is Neely is to involved as President and they are trying to serve 2 masters when serving 1 is hard enough

The good news is Jacobs is not going to be told a third year by the same guy We can do a deep run

Talking to buds just kicking this topic around there's a view they miss but continue to battle enough Neely gets the job change and Claude even survives with just Sweeney and his group running this

I admit I didn't realize Neely is so involved he actually is scouting pro games - that shocked me and tells me a lot

 

[Gordoff]

Pretty confident this accurate or very close

Neely had it for Chiarelli and his guy Claude once he became President. Remember Neely comment on 98.5 about Claude coaching to win 0-0 and Chiarelli comment about Claude is his coach as long as he's here

Chiarelli had to be kicking himself to take this job and not cover this scenario

Chiarelli under normal circumstances where there is no Neely and he is President of Hockey Operations wouldn't even think of a Yandle-Vermette deal

But he was trying to make the playoffs and his job

By all reports it was very short term deal and had multiple picks including Boston's first in 2015

Neely was much stronger with ownership at that time than he is now 2 years later going on the second DNQ for playoffs since he forced Chiarelli out

Now Neely is on shaky ground and I'm not sure who would kill a Vermette deal so since it benefits Neely more and logically goes against what Sweeney has said

Maybe Sweeney says I'm not doing it? Sweeney is a Claude guy and doesn't appear to be backing Neely to fire Claude. These 2 wins and their fight back shows they aren't quitting on Julien the way Crosby and company took out Mike Johnson last year

My opinion talking to people including some who are well thought of here as members even if predominately lurk is Neely is to involved as President and they are trying to serve 2 masters when serving 1 is hard enough

The good news is Jacobs is not going to be told a third year by the same guy We can do a deep run

Talking to buds just kicking this topic around there's a view they miss but continue to battle enough Neely gets the job change and Claude even survives with just Sweeney and his group running this

I admit I didn't realize Neely is so involved he actually is scouting pro games - that shocked me and tells me a lot

Yeah, it helps me to now understand why the Bruins "hockey trades" are either non-existent or in the case of Jimmy Hayes for example, plain old fashioned sucky.

 

[ODAAT]

Pretty confident this accurate or very close

Neely had it for Chiarelli and his guy Claude once he became President. Remember Neely comment on 98.5 about Claude coaching to win 0-0 and Chiarelli comment about Claude is his coach as long as he's here

Chiarelli had to be kicking himself to take this job and not cover this scenario

Chiarelli under normal circumstances where there is no Neely and he is President of Hockey Operations wouldn't even think of a Yandle-Vermette deal

But he was trying to make the playoffs and his job

By all reports it was very short term deal and had multiple picks including Boston's first in 2015

Neely was much stronger with ownership at that time than he is now 2 years later going on the second DNQ for playoffs since he forced Chiarelli out

Now Neely is on shaky ground and I'm not sure who would kill a Vermette deal so since it benefits Neely more and logically goes against what Sweeney has said

Maybe Sweeney says I'm not doing it? Sweeney is a Claude guy and doesn't appear to be backing Neely to fire Claude. These 2 wins and their fight back shows they aren't quitting on Julien the way Crosby and company took out Mike Johnson last year

My opinion talking to people including some who are well thought of here as members even if predominately lurk is Neely is to involved as President and they are trying to serve 2 masters when serving 1 is hard enough

The good news is Jacobs is not going to be told a third year by the same guy We can do a deep run

Talking to buds just kicking this topic around there's a view they miss but continue to battle enough Neely gets the job change and Claude even survives with just Sweeney and his group running this

I admit I didn't realize Neely is so involved he actually is scouting pro games - that shocked me and tells me a lot

interesting post and I shudder when hearing Neely is pro scouting games, would/could this explain the Liles/Stempniak deals last year?

Possibly making his case for Rinaldo the summer before? Crazy

 

[BruinDust]

Pretty confident this accurate or very close

Neely had it for Chiarelli and his guy Claude once he became President. Remember Neely comment on 98.5 about Claude coaching to win 0-0 and Chiarelli comment about Claude is his coach as long as he's here

Chiarelli had to be kicking himself to take this job and not cover this scenario

Chiarelli under normal circumstances where there is no Neely and he is President of Hockey Operations wouldn't even think of a Yandle-Vermette deal

But he was trying to make the playoffs and his job

By all reports it was very short term deal and had multiple picks including Boston's first in 2015

Neely was much stronger with ownership at that time than he is now 2 years later going on the second DNQ for playoffs since he forced Chiarelli out

Now Neely is on shaky ground and I'm not sure who would kill a Vermette deal so since it benefits Neely more and logically goes against what Sweeney has said

Maybe Sweeney says I'm not doing it? Sweeney is a Claude guy and doesn't appear to be backing Neely to fire Claude. These 2 wins and their fight back shows they aren't quitting on Julien the way Crosby and company took out Mike Johnson last year

My opinion talking to people including some who are well thought of here as members even if predominately lurk is Neely is to involved as President and they are trying to serve 2 masters when serving 1 is hard enough

The good news is Jacobs is not going to be told a third year by the same guy We can do a deep run

Talking to buds just kicking this topic around there's a view they miss but continue to battle enough Neely gets the job change and Claude even survives with just Sweeney and his group running this

I admit I didn't realize Neely is so involved he actually is scouting pro games - that shocked me and tells me a lot

Wait what?

Neely is scouting pro games?

Sweet merciful. Nothing good has or will come of that.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Wait what?

Neely is scouting pro games?

Sweet merciful. Nothing good has or will come of that.

Wonder what kind of player he's looking for?

 

[BruinDust]

Wonder what kind of player he's looking for?

My guess is the next Lyndon Byers.

 

[ODAAT]

Wait what?

Neely is scouting pro games?

Sweet merciful. Nothing good has or will come of that.

um, hello, Lee Stempniak, Liles, Rinaldo all disagree

 

[LouJersey]

In defense of Stempniak and Liiles they were both playing very well on their old teams before they got here. You have a guy like Backes saying this is a tough system to learn in all reality have the Bruins ever made an acquisition at the deadline that came here and did better than the team they were on before? Kelly and pevs were not great the first 25 games. Kaberle was pretty bad. Jagr. Rolston was good. Meszaros, Zanon, potter all terrible.

 

[BruinDust]

In defense of Stempniak and Liiles they were both playing very well on their old teams before they got here. You have a guy like Backes saying this is a tough system to learn in all reality have the Bruins ever made an acquisition at the deadline that came here and did better than the team they were on before? Kelly and pevs were not great the first 25 games. Kaberle was pretty bad. Jagr. Rolston was good. Meszaros, Zanon, potter all terrible.

The only other guy who I though came in here and made a very quick and seemless transition at the deadline was Seidenberg back in 2010.

I think this is an issue. Liles mentioned it as well coming from a man-to-man defensive structure to a box-out style the Bruins employ.

All the more reason for Sweeney to not leave his moves to the last minute. Even though for this season he should look to sell not buy.

 

[LouJersey]

The only other guy who I though came in here and made a very quick and seemless transition at the deadline was Seidenberg back in 2010.

I think this is an issue. Liles mentioned it as well coming from a man-to-man defensive structure to a box-out style the Bruins employ.

All the more reason for Sweeney to not leave his moves to the last minute. Even though for this season he should look to sell not buy.

True I forgot about him. He was sensational.

Good point about waiting. You need a half of season I would say. Had the Bruins been eliminated first round 2011 those deals would have been the obsession here still. Those three players just did not look great until the playoffs started and they had 2 dozen or so games under their belts.

 

[DKH]

In defense of Stempniak and Liiles they were both playing very well on their old teams before they got here. You have a guy like Backes saying this is a tough system to learn in all reality have the Bruins ever made an acquisition at the deadline that came here and did better than the team they were on before? Kelly and pevs were not great the first 25 games. Kaberle was pretty bad. Jagr. Rolston was good. Meszaros, Zanon, potter all terrible.

Agree Lou

I get the Stempniak cost was a 2 & 4 based on Hudler deal to Florida but can't believe a 2 by itself does it. Hated cost

I didn't like a 3 & 5 for Liles

Actually not dealing Eriksson they should have skipped the Stempniak deal

When Neely goes public they want to do damage in the playoffs it puts a lot of pressure on him

Rinaldo was a Neely backed and initiated deal 100% folks need to stop tying this to Sweeney

 

[Duguay]

deadline moves can be key. There's a chance that without Kelly, Peverley and Kaberle....that the Cup isn't won in 2011.

Same can be said for Butch Goring, Ben Bishop, Hossa, Hull, Bozak, St.Louis, and of course, Ray Bourque.

 

[DKH]

deadline moves can be key. There's a chance that without Kelly, Peverley and Kaberle....that the Cup isn't won in 2011.

Same can be said for Butch Goring, Ben Bishop, Hossa, Hull, Bozak, St.Louis, and of course, Ray Bourque.

2011 was way different feel

They were young and balanced and tough

This team is like a $7.99 cafeteria buffet

I'm rooting but not excited

 

[ap3lovr]

2011 was way different feel

They were young and balanced and tough

This team is like a $7.99 cafeteria buffet

I'm rooting but not excited

I get pretty excited for a buffet trip. I put on the jeans I buy at costco because they stretch at the waist. I make the bed because I know i'm going to sleep like a baby. I even get someone else to drive because I will have the meat sweats after. Now I'm hungry.

 

[DKH]

I get pretty excited for a buffet trip. I put on the jeans I buy at costco because they stretch at the waist. I make the bed because I know i'm going to sleep like a baby. I even get someone else to drive because I will have the meat sweats after. Now I'm hungry.

IHOP has all you can eat pancakes till February 12

Next Monday after the SB could see lines out the IHOP front door

 

[Heisenberg77]

Did anybody see Claude's quote when asked by Haggs about Khudobin?

Per Haggs Twitter (I can't figure out how to embed Tweets)

"I asked Claude Julien what kind of reports he'd received on Anton Khudobin's play in Providence: "I didn't get any, to be perfectly honest"

If you ask me, this is a telling sign. He didn't have to give Haggs anything here (especially with their relationship as of late!) but he did the opposite.

The phrase "to be perfectly honest" IMO reflects his frustration with Sweeney. He didn't have to say anything, let alone "I didn't get any". But then to throw in the subtle TBPH rings clear that the communication between the two leaves something to be desired.

Good job by Haggs to get this small-but-telling information out of Claude.

 

[jgatie]

Good job by Haggs to get this small-but-telling information out of Claude.

That implies Haggs actually got the quote right (or even was in the room). Not something I'd be willing to bet the farm on.

 

[Heisenberg77]

That implies Haggs actually got the quote right (or even was in the room). Not something I'd be willing to bet the farm on.

Hmm? Why would he lie about that? I see no reason to not believe something so basic.

 

[bp13]

You could easily take that quote to mean he didn't need any scouting report. That he is confident in Khudobin and if scouts/coaches said he was ready for the callup, then he's ready.

I'd agree that CJ put a shot over the bow a few weeks back regarding his team's talent, but I think that was somewhat overblown too. That could have been as much a shot at his players to step up their game as it was to the GM. And I'm inclined to think the coach and GM have a decent working relationship given how long the coach has been here and the chances the GM has had to fire him.

Of course all this assumes we actually have a GM...almost seems like rumor more than fact at this point.

 

[jgatie]

Hmm? Why would he lie about that? I see no reason to not believe something so basic.

Oh he doesn't lie.

He just either gets something incredibly wrong, or he leaves out certain critical parts. Like the time he reported Thorty had a concussion when he really had a sinus infection and bronchitis, or the time he left out the majority of a Krejci quote in order to make him look like a malcontent.