News Article: Fluto - Bruins occupying middle ground

[PlayMakers]

I don't really think that's a legit fear. For starters, I don't have faith Sweeney can close a deal in-season. But secondly, I think he has dutifully shown a commitment to kids and he's not about to throw that away for a playoff run. And yeah, he gave up a few picks last spring in the name of a "playoff run", but the pieces weren't major and the team was in better standing. This year I see him standing pat. The question is whether standing pat and/or missing the playoffs is okay with the big boss.

?

I don't have faith Sweeney can swing a hockey deal, a player with term for a player with term. But last year he added Liles and Stempniak in-season.

I fully expect him to add as a piece or two by the deadline.

 

[Therick67]

Good for Sweeney and Neely. **** Felger and Mazz. They're simpletons with a mic. It's a shame they have the influence they do. I wish more people would stand up to them and set them straight. They ask insulting questions to yes men like Haggerty and all have a big chuckle at the Bruins expense. I'd love to see them ask Laviolette or even better John Tortorella, all the questions they have about Julien, Sweeney and Neely and see what he says. He'd belittle, berate and embarrass them.

If Sweeney and Neely can't handle Felger & Mazz, I'm not sure I want them ruining my favorite hockey team - or dealing with other managers, media or agents.

 

[PlayMakers]

I'd say they had a great run for 7-8 years and now are rebuilding while trying to win

There are no 60-70 point seasons in the forecast

Last I looked there is a cap so the league is structured for parity

It's kind of reality in sports best examples are the Yankees & Red Sox who had long runs of elite status but the last 5 years have been all over the map

Celtics dealing with it now post KG & Pierce

I'm not sure what fans expected ?

Years of President trophy & Cup trips

The reason there are empty seats at Bruins Celtics and Red Sox are all the same

Very easy to grasp

I agree. It's a team in transition. They had an amazing 7 year run, now they're trying to reload for the next run while remaining competitive. It is what it is. You can't be great all the time.

 

[bp13]

?

I don't have faith Sweeney can swing a hockey deal, a player with term for a player with term. But last year he added Liles and Stempniak in-season.

I fully expect him to add as a piece or two by the deadline.

I'm defining "in-season" as not deadline. At the deadline, every GM feels pressure to make moves either to add for a run, to generate fan interest, to build, to take advantage of a fluid market, whatever. Kind of like what happens around the draft. But I view trades outside of those windows differently. I think they entail a different process for the GM's, a slightly different skillset. Gotta know when/where to strike. I don't have any confidence Seeney can do that because he hasn't. PC didn't do it much either, for what that's worth.

As for "hockey trades" those are the only deals that interest me, aside from selling assets. I have no desire to see them try to plug all these holes for this season. I don't see any way that isn't throwing good money after bad.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

As I've been saying since the beginning of the season, the Bruins are a mediocre team. There is some promise for the future but it's a shame to waste as much of Bergeron's and Krejci's prime years as the Bruins 'brain-trust' is doing

It's become very similar to the cycle that junior teams go through. They are constantly in a cycle of building for a championship run followed by a few years in decline. Some even become cellar dwellers as the strip it down and restock with much younger players. Of course that is much more doable when personnel decisions do not involve money or contracts as factors.

Many talented players unfortunately do get caught on the wrong side of the cycle and never get the situation to thrive on a really good team through not fault on their own. Is the NHL model leaning more and more in that direction as well?

 

[PlayMakers]

If Sweeney and Neely can't handle Felger & Mazz, I'm not sure I want them ruining my favorite hockey team - or dealing with other managers, media or agents.

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Neely, I don't think could outwit them. Last time he was on their show they hammered him and he got mad. Legit angry. Knowing what we know about Cam, he doesn't usually talk his way out of those situations, but he can't start beating them with their mic's, although I'd love to hear him repeatedly cuff Felger while saying, "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself."

So at the end of the day, it's best he stay away.

Fwiw, I don't hear anyone else in the media complaining about their availability or access.

 

[wintersej]

It is managements fault. They are short an NHL caliber forward. They are short two NHL caliber number one and number two defense man. The team is under manned. It is too bad. The team is a plucky solid hard working bunch. With a few guys, they could compete no doubt.

The team is unbalanced and under manned. The assets have not been used in a correct fashion to stay competitive. Also, the talent evaluation on the players here is astoundingly poor. The Morrow story here is just mindless. Why this kid is getting screwed hard is beyond me. So in my opinion it is management. They are guilty of under performing in getting talent via trade and evaluating current roster talent. The fans pay the high prices and the players are trying their best most nights. Both are being sold out by management. I wonder if Donnie even picks up the phone.

If the Bruins management undervalued Morrow/Colin so much compared to the rest of the league, don't you think they would have received a trade offer they couldn't refuse? Morrow and Colin are offensive defenseman that don't provide offense. They can help you in terms of possession metrics in exchange for lesser play in front of their own net, but didn't I just describe Matt Bartkowski?

edit: of course both Morrow and Colin show more flashes than Bart ever did. But, you would like to see more than flashes at 24 years old.

 

[Therick67]

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Neely, I don't think could outwit them. Last time he was on their show they hammered him and he got mad. Legit angry. Knowing what we know about Cam, he doesn't usually talk his way out of those situations, but he can't start beating them with their mic's, although I'd love to hear him repeatedly cuff Felger while saying, "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself."

So at the end of the day, it's best he stay away.

Fwiw, I don't hear anyone else in the media complaining about their availability or access.

I'm sure these guys could go on with Bertrand and Zolak, if Felger is too tough on them.

I could care less if they talk, but it seems it's part of the obligation that goes along with the radio contract.

 

[PlayMakers]

I'm defining "in-season" as not deadline. At the deadline, every GM feels pressure to make moves either to add for a run, to generate fan interest, to build, to take advantage of a fluid market, whatever. Kind of like what happens around the draft. But I view trades outside of those windows differently. I think they entail a different process for the GM's, a slightly different skillset. Gotta know when/where to strike. I don't have any confidence Seeney can do that because he hasn't. PC didn't do it much either, for what that's worth.

As for "hockey trades" those are the only deals that interest me, aside from selling assets. I have no desire to see them try to plug all these holes for this season. I don't see any way that isn't throwing good money after bad.

Fair enough. I also don't have a lot of confidence in him to make an in-season deal that would help but I don't if that presumption is totally fair. If I were him, I would not look to make a deal until after I get Vatrano back and see how the pieces fit with him in the mix. I'd want to see the whole picture too. I guess you could call him on not upgrading the defense last year though...

Fwiw, I would also prefer a hockey trade, but I'll take a rental over nothing.

 

[bp13]

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Neely, I don't think could outwit them. Last time he was on their show they hammered him and he got mad. Legit angry. Knowing what we know about Cam, he doesn't usually talk his way out of those situations, but he can't start beating them with their mic's, although I'd love to hear him repeatedly cuff Felger while saying, "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself."

So at the end of the day, it's best he stay away.

Fwiw, I don't hear anyone else in the media complaining about their availability or access.

The problem I think that twosome has is that they are forced to be front men for an owner whose goals are not aligned with those of the fanbase. That's a tough spot, and one that requires guile, PR savvy, etc. I don't feel like Sweeney has it, and I'm plenty confident Neely doesn't. So what they have is a pretty strange arrangement, which is why we are all left to wonder who is running the show.

 

[Therick67]

The problem I think that twosome has is that they are forced to be front men for an owner whose goals are not aligned with those of the fanbase. That's a tough spot, and one that requires guile, PR savvy, etc. I don't feel like Sweeney has it, and I'm plenty confident Neely doesn't. So what they have is a pretty strange arrangement, which is why we are all left to wonder who is running the show.

It would be nice to hear from someone in management once in a while.

This organization couldn't be worse in the PR department, if they tried.

Even the pro shop is awful.

 

[Fenway]

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Neely, I don't think could outwit them. Last time he was on their show they hammered him and he got mad. Legit angry. Knowing what we know about Cam, he doesn't usually talk his way out of those situations, but he can't start beating them with their mic's, although I'd love to hear him repeatedly cuff Felger while saying, "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself."

So at the end of the day, it's best he stay away.

Fwiw, I don't hear anyone else in the media complaining about their availability or access.

98.5 is supposed to have regular access to management because they have the radio contract.

 

[bp13]

Fair enough. I also don't have a lot of confidence in him to make an in-season deal that would help but I don't if that presumption is totally fair. If I were him, I would not look to make a deal until after I get Vatrano back and see how the pieces fit with him in the mix. I'd want to see the whole picture too. I guess you could call him on not upgrading the defense last year though...

Fwiw, I would also prefer a hockey trade, but I'll take a rental over nothing.

See but this is the type of thinking from a GM I really dislike. The job of a GM, to an extent, is to project successfully how an asset will perform. I mean if every money manager waited to see how his proposed portfolio performed before actually allocating to it, wouldn't that be a hell of a lot easier, and also a hell of a lot more expensive? Anybody can do that.

The trick is to make decisions based on prognostications that end up being more right than wrong. Don't get me wrong...I understand your point. Vatrano may play to the level it makes Sweeney's need a 2nd liner vs. a 3rd liner, for example. But he should be able to identify that now. That's supposed to be the expertise that comes with that job. Meanwhile games and points slip away, and those are key factors.

 

[Therick67]

98.5 is supposed to have regular access to management because they have the radio contract.

The more I think about it, it's ridiculous one of these guys can't handle this. Belichick does it, and he actually has a long resume of success.

 

[bp13]

It would be nice to hear from someone in management once in a while.

This organization couldn't be worse in the PR department, if they tried.

Even the pro shop is awful.

It's always been that way with the Bruins. It starts at the top. We have a terrible owner who's always been completely out of touch with the fanbase. It's like the Red Sox before Henry. Hopefully our grandkids get a different experience.

 

[Therick67]

It's always been that way with the Bruins. It starts at the top. We have a terrible owner who's always been completely out of touch with the fanbase. It's like the Red Sox before Henry. Hopefully our grandkids get a different experience.

Yup. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fans are just dollar signs, they don't even pretend otherwise.

 

[Gee Wally]

It's always been that way with the Bruins. It starts at the top. We have a terrible owner who's always been completely out of touch with the fanbase. It's like the Red Sox before Henry. Hopefully our grandkids get a different experience.

Until there is something of substance in it for them ( I mean substantial ticket loss) there is no driver.

One can argue right or wrong but really its the $ that drives things.

Fans are there own worse enemies here IMO.

 

[Therick67]

I shelled out some good cash to take my son to a game in January and I don't even feel good about it..

 

[ap3lovr]

I'd say they had a great run for 7-8 years and now are rebuilding while trying to win

There are no 60-70 point seasons in the forecast

Last I looked there is a cap so the league is structured for parity

It's kind of reality in sports best examples are the Yankees & Red Sox who had long runs of elite status but the last 5 years have been all over the map

Celtics dealing with it now post KG & Pierce

I'm not sure what fans expected ?

Years of President trophy & Cup trips

The reason there are empty seats at Bruins Celtics and Red Sox are all the same

Very easy to grasp

If Rask goes down for the year, we are a 60-70 point team the rest of the way. I get that at some point you will have a downturn. I'm fine with that, and I think everyone else understands it at the core, a teams level of competitiveness is cyclical in a cap world. The issue I have is that after missing for 2 years, and seeing the on ice product this season. Our GM has done nothing to rectify the situation or, and in my opinion more importantly, send a message to players that they need to produce. Something as simple as shipping Hayes to Providence could make an impact in that dressing room.

 

[PlayMakers]

If the Bruins management undervalued Morrow/Colin so much compared to the rest of the league, don't you think they would have received a trade offer they couldn't refuse? Morrow and Colin are offensive defenseman that don't provide offense. They can help you in terms of possession metrics in exchange for lesser play in front of their own net, but didn't I just describe Matt Bartkowski?

edit: of course both Morrow and Colin show more flashes than Bart ever did. But, you would like to see more than flashes at 24 years old.

I also think folks are overstating their strong play a little bit. IMHO, they've both been good enough to be NHL regulars, I think they're legit 5/6 guys right now and could play every night, but I don't know that they represent an indisputable upgrade over Kevan or McQuaid. They're different in terms of skill set than 54/86 for sure, but the possession metrics actually say that when McQuaid is on the ice, the team generates more shots on goal and allows fewer shots on goal then when Morrow is on the ice. Colin Miller's possession metrics are very strong, but then he'll score on his own goalie from time to time.

Don't get me wrong I like them both, but IMO there is a degree of uncertainty as to who is going to help you win the next game. At least in my mind.

 

[DKH]

I agree. It's a team in transition. They had an amazing 7 year run, now they're trying to reload for the next run while remaining competitive. It is what it is. You can't be great all the time.

I just listened for the second time Kirk & Co. wildly informative and entertaining podcast and remain as optimistic as ever.

They certainly need to find more Brad Marchands and less Jonathan Aitken but the message is the same exposed this is a very strong group

 

[PlayMakers]

98.5 is supposed to have regular access to management because they have the radio contract.

I suspect that contract also contains a clause about conduct during the interviews and I wouldn't be surprised if there is an out-clause for something fuzzy like unprofessional behavior.

I believe Neely went regularly to those things pretty regularly before that last blow up.

 

[Fenway]

It would be nice to hear from someone in management once in a while.

This organization couldn't be worse in the PR department, if they tried.

Even the pro shop is awful.

The head of the PR department left the team last week to be in charge in Vegas

http://beverly.wickedlocal.com/sports/20161209/beverly-native-eric-tosi-joins-vegas-golden-knights

Eric Tosi has hit the NHL jackpot.

The Beverly native was officially named Vice President of Communications and Content for the Vegas Golden Knights, Dec. 9. He will begin work with the NHL's newest expansion team, Dec. 19.

Tosi is currently in his 10th season with the Boston Bruins, most recently serving as the team's Director of Communications and Content. In this role, he serves as the team's primary spokesperson, overseeing the team's off-ice public relations efforts, while helping direct the club's digital, social and content production and strategy.

Over the years he has become one of the team's most valuable and versatile performers behind the scenes.

"Oftentimes it doesn't feel like I'm at work," Tosi told the Beverly Citizen. "Even when there are long days, you're at a hockey game, and it's really exciting."

A staple with the Bruins Media Relations department for the past 10 seasons, Tosi has certainly earned his keep working on an array of tasks. He is the executive producer, writer, and director of the Bruins' two award-winning television shows, "Behind the B" and "Bruins Academy." Tosi also co-authored the Bruins official Stanley Cup Championship book in 2011.

In addition, he has been a part of three Dillman Award-winning staffs with the Bruins, an annual honor given to the top media relations departments in the NHL, and was recently selected by the NHL to work the 2016 World Cup of Hockey as a Communications/PR Consultant for the Czech Republic team.

 

[DKH]

If Rask goes down for the year, we are a 60-70 point team the rest of the way. I get that at some point you will have a downturn. I'm fine with that, and I think everyone else understands it at the core, a teams level of competitiveness is cyclical in a cap world. The issue I have is that after missing for 2 years, and seeing the on ice product this season. Our GM has done nothing to rectify the situation or, and in my opinion more importantly, send a message to players that they need to produce. Something as simple as shipping Hayes to Providence could make an impact in that dressing room.

I just read Fluto at lunch call Montreal in today's Globe likely with Chicago and Pittsburgh as top teams

Yet Montreal went 17-4 and first to 21-34 last year when they lost their goalie - the goalie is usually the most important player on the team

With price first overall without

Montreal picked 9th in the draft

 

[Dr Quincy]

Good for Sweeney and Neely. **** Felger and Mazz. They're simpletons with a mic. It's a shame they have the influence they do. I wish more people would stand up to them and set them straight. They ask insulting questions to yes men like Haggerty and all have a big chuckle at the Bruins expense. I'd love to see them ask Laviolette or even better John Tortorella, all the questions they have about Julien, Sweeney and Neely and see what he says. He'd belittle, berate and embarrass them.

That's a fine stance to take, but it comes with risks and consequences. There are 2 media outlets in town. Shun 1 and you are left with 1 bidder in a time when media are taking a look at how to maximize every $ while cutting expenditures. Refuse to make your organization available and you could end up hurting the bottom line with what you get for rights fees.

On top of that, you could argue that being accountable to your fans matters. While you may or may not like Felger & Mazz or Kirk and Callahan, they generally are the 2 shows that will actually ask the questions that people want to know.

Patriots fans are willing to overlook Bill's refusal to answer (and even praise it) because he wins. Sweeney refusing to answer, without that cache, is a little dicier.