And *that,* dear friends, has, is and always will be the bottom line and edict to management from on high.
Yes, Charlie cares, and yes, he's basically in charge now.
But the bottom line remains the bottom line.
For the thousandth time, nothing changes on Causeway Street unless and until the ATM jams and, to mix metaphors, the gravy train threatens to careen from the tracks.
Which is why Sinden and OC were finally booted to the curb after the lockout debacle when Bruins fans, long accustomed to an annual kick in the teeth, at last voted with their feet.
The frustration and negativity among hard core Bruins fans has become, or is becoming, palpable.
Hence cries of "Fire Sweeney!" in the waning moments of the EDM embarrassment.
The protracted, rancorous Swayman hold out, which in my view laid bare his immaturity, selfishness and poor judgement, proved deeply damaging on several fronts (to Jeremy's reputation, effectiveness and relationship with management, teammates and fans; worse, the matter eroded the vaunted "culture" built & fostered by Z, Patrice, Brad, et. al.)
Add to this two expensive -- do not underestimate this element of the equation when calculating the mood in Buffalo -- and evidently costly free agent signings in dollars & term.
The Montgomery mess.
Apparently, Cam was behind canning Cassidy after some younger players complained that his blunt and sometimes harsh methods made them, in the precious parlance of the day, "uncomfortable."
It's also worth noting that Impulsive Cam was likely responsible for the shabby manner of Peter Chiarelli's and Claude Julien's dismissal. (Shades of Sinden.)
Two outsiders who transformed a sclerotic, incompetent, radioactive joke of a franchise into a proud, winning organization, delivering Boston and its long suffering fandom their first Stanley Cup in 39 years.
Within five years.
Whatever can be said of them, Chiarelli and Julien are proven winners and champions.
Perhaps unfairly, I cannot say the same of Don Sweeney and Cam Neely. They played for, and under, Harry Sinden, and *still* sit at his feet. During their playing days, the Boston Bruins were notoriously penurious and always -- always -- at least two players short of legitimately challenging for a Stanley Cup.
Also perhaps harshly, they possess a losing mentality.
Many years ago, a fellow NHL General Manager remarked truly, acidly, succinctly, "Harry doesn't play to win. Harry plays not to lose."
The same can be said of Sweeney and Neely, if in kinder, gentler fashion. That's why I refer to them, insultingly, as The Stockholm Twins.
In the event, change of whatever kind is coming.
"Things fall apart.
"The centre cannot hold."
