How much support for Sweeney as GM?

[LSCII]

This is how I am approaching it. I think this is fair, and wise. I believe that team ownership should be researching/studying/talking to people who can potentially lead this franchise in a modern, professional manner moving forward.

The old boys stuff has to go.

These are multi billion dollar businesses. They need good businessmen who stay out of hockey, and good hockey men who stay out of business.

If any changes were made, I think it would be fair to let Sweeney transition the transition. If that didn't work out, then I think he'd be a fine, fine AGM or Development Guru.

I am not sure he even really enjoys being a GM? I does seem to go against his grain.

Agreed. Especially about whether he enjoys and is suited to a GM position. I say that because he's basically eschewed the media relations part of his job, to the detriment of the team and it's fans.

 

[Speed Shooter]

I didn't like it, wanted them to sell, not trade more picks for rentals.

Having said that, it was his first trade deadline and am curious to see what he does this year. If they can't make a move that is geared toward the future and is just a rental to make the playoffs I won't be happy.

We also have to consider what his bosses are telling him. If he's being told what to do, then that's a problem.

I understand. But I also think that is way too kind a sentiment I see so often.

If Sweeney makes a crappy decision (and there are tons on a short resume as GM) or state of the current B's stink, then it's either Cam/ownership meddling or Chia's scorched Earth fault.

If Sweeney makes a great decision (draft choices) then he knocked out of the park, give him credit!

You can't have it both ways. A GM should be judged on body of work without the asterisks attached, favorable or not. Otherwise it's a complete waste of time to make an honest assessment.

 

[Therick67]

I understand. But I also think that is way too kind a sentiment I see so often.

If Sweeney makes a crappy decision (and there are tons on a short resume as GM) or state of the current B's stink, then it's either Cam/ownership meddling or Chia's scorched Earth fault.

If Sweeney makes a great decision (draft choices) then he knocked out of the park, give him credit!

You can't have it both ways. A GM should be judged on body of work without the asterisks attached, favorable or not. Otherwise it's a complete waste of time to make an honest assessment.

I'm not sure how or why you've got me pegged a a Sweeney apologist. I'm not.

I'm on the fence with him and think this deadline is huge for his long term employment as GM of this team.

He's made some bad moves, some good moves.

The thing he's allegedly done is draft well. I'll believe it when I see it.

My thing is, this front office is screwed up and that could have some effect on his performance.

 

[bigbadbruins1]

Its hard to say but he seems to have done a decent job with restocking the prospect pool, but on the flip side he has been absolute garbage when it comes to making trades and evaluating talent already in the NHL.

 

[Marchy63]

I believe that Sweeney is better as a Head of Scouting/Player Development than as an NHL GM. Time may prove me wrong, but his strengths seems to be building up the prospect pool and the farm club. His weakness seems to be identifying and addressing the holes on the NHL club. He almost seems like he is doing his job as if he is still the AGM rather than the GM.

I would prefer the GM focus on the improving the NHL team and allow his management team to worry about the prospects and the farm club. I don't mean that he should be completely hands off when it comes to scouting and the minor league club, just his first priority should be to the NHL team.

 

[LPTank]

I believe that Sweeney is better as a Head of Scouting/Player Development than as an NHL GM. Time may prove me wrong, but his strengths seems to be building up the prospect pool and the farm club. His weakness seems to be identifying and addressing the holes on the NHL club. He almost seems like he is doing his job as if he is still the AGM rather than the GM.

I would prefer the GM focus on the improving the NHL team and allow his management team to worry about the prospects and the farm club. I don't mean that he should be completely hands off when it comes to scouting and the minor league club, just his first priority should be to the NHL team.

I think a good GM does all of this. Drafts good prospects to build up the farm and maintain competitiveness in the future, and ices a competitive team at the NHL level. We can debate the "two goal strategy", but I think when Sweeney took over, he (or the entire organization) saw the deep pit they were heading into and decided retool on the fly was a good strategy going forward.

 

[Absurdity]

And I agree with this.

But to me, if we are okay with giving him one more year, why rate him as "average"? He's not good enough to be considered average. He's about to miss the playoffs two years in a row despite moves and signings aimed at making the playoffs. That is undeniable. He didn't sell Loui, he kept Julien, kept all his vets, even added Backes to an unwise long-term deal for an aging player, re-signed all the mediocre, older dmen. He was clearly aiming to make the playoffs, and he's gonna fail both times.

Again, because he's hitched to the kids and because they look promising, I give him one more season to show he can actually build/improve an NHL roster. But to date, he hasn't done well. I'm not sure how anyone can argue that. So I have no idea how people think he's "average". And rating him above average is comical. If he's above average at this point then my coffee mug could be an NHL GM.

I think he has done some good and bad, but I also think grading Sweeney right now as either being spectacular or garbage is too soon. He is 1.5 years in as the Bruins GM, and if anything, his grade right now should be incomplete.

When Sweeney became GM, I don't think anyone expected the Bruins to be cup contenders with the way the team was left after Chiarelli got fired. The lack of vision may be troubling, rebuild or compete now, but if upper management wants to make the playoffs, Sweeney is going to have to deliver which is why the big red button hasn't been pressed yet. It doesn't mean Sweeney should be absent of any criticism or fault because he is the one that does make the moves, but we have heard Sweeney talk about a multi-year plan to get this team back to where every team wants to be, cup contenders. He's trying to do the impossible by meeting upper-management's and fans' expectations of icing a competitive hockey team while rebuilding. It hasn't worked yet, but it's the result of porous drafting under Chiarelli's years in Boston.

You think it's fine to pay a 7th defenseman $2m in a salary cap era? Really?

$2M for 1 year for a veteran defenseman that knows the system and would have filled in for Krug had Krug been out for the month he was supposed to miss at the start of the season but didn't? The Bruins have plenty of cap space to make a move at the trade deadline, topic for another discussion, and Liles will be gone after this year. For a team in the middle of competing and rebuilding/retooling, it's not a disastrous signing. If you want to discuss his usage, that's also a topic that should be brought up in another thread.

 

[LSCII]

Yes, my mistake. His 32 would lead all Bruins Defenseman nonetheless. Points from the Blueline/ a monster stat. Look at how valued points are from that position around the league right now. I am going to be doing a breakdown, as soon as I get a chance, on just how valuable these points are. That way we can keep an eye on it through the Playoffs.

A lack of points from the blue line is why this team struggles to score now. The offense still flows through the point, but they don't have guys back there anymore who can actually score. I called it years ago, saying they were too dependent on the d to contribute offensively, and that it was a matter of time before it caught up to them. Sucks, but that's what happens when you devalue any offensive forward you have on the roster for years simply because you're getting offense from the back end. Eventually it catches up to you.

 

[chizzler]

A lack of points from the blue line is why this team struggles to score now. The offense still flows through the point, but they don't have guys back there anymore who can actually score. I called it years ago, saying they were too dependent on the d to contribute offensively, and that it was a matter of time before it caught up to them. Sucks, but that's what happens when you devalue any offensive forward you have on the roster for years simply because you're getting offense from the back end. Eventually it catches up to you.

They should stop doing the lazy wrister and actually take a slap shot. Only Krug seems to be allowed to take one.

 

[Fenway]

Sweeney got off to a horrendous start 2 years ago at the draft when he made deals that gave him the 14th, 15th, and 16th picks and had been given verbal assurances that Arizona would then deal their pick to Boston. Sweeney wanted Noah Hanifin that badly but for whatever reason Arizona reneged on the promise ( and this is assuming the Bruins narrative is accurate )

Let me throw this out there and if someone wants to do a poll fee free.

Would the Bruins be better off today if they had allowed Peter Chiarelli a chance to clean up the mess he created?

 

[ODAAT]

Sweeney got off to a horrendous start 2 years ago at the draft when he made deals that gave him the 14th, 15th, and 16th picks and had been given verbal assurances that Arizona would then deal their pick to Boston. Sweeney wanted Noah Hanifin that badly but for whatever reason Arizona reneged on the promise ( and this is assuming the Bruins narrative is accurate )

Let me throw this out there and if someone wants to do a poll fee free.

Would the Bruins be better off today if they had allowed Peter Chiarelli a chance to clean up the mess he created?

I`m not convinced Chiarelli would have even wanted to stick around

 

[ReggieMoto]

I`m not convinced Chiarelli would have even wanted to stick around

Could be true. But if he wanted to, should he have been allowed to stay and turn things around?

To ODAAT's point I think the relationship between Chia and Neely was probably so toxic that IMO Chia likely didn't have Neely's support and the freedom a GM needs to make deals. Too much second-guessing and the over-bearing pressure that would accompany that. Given that, I think no, they wouldn't have.

 

[ODAAT]

Could be true. But if he wanted to, should he have been allowed to stay and turn things around?

To ODAAT's point I think the relationship between Chia and Neely was probably so toxic that IMO Chia likely didn't have Neely's support and the freedom a GM needs to make deals. Too much second-guessing and the over-bearing pressure that would accompany that. Given that, I think no, they wouldn't have.

I think it was time to move on from Chia as well. I love DS`s amateur scouting (or his team of scouts), love hearing then seeing him going out and drafting, what appears to be quality kids.

All GM`s make mistakes but Chia`s drafts essentially forced him to overpay for players and left this team in a tough spot. Because they had such a weak draft history, this team couldn`t allow players to walk or trade them as a prospect was ready and would be promoted and cheaply.

And the fact that it sure appeared as though Chia was almost too nice/loyal, almost like he wanted to keep everyone happy and handed out NMC`s and contracts too big after that cup win.

I am not impressed with DS`s moves when it comes to pro scouting and I didn`t like some of his signings

I think if the Jacobs give DS time, we`ll see the immense rewards that come with the strong drafting, but that`s a big if and IMO, I`d ship Neely out yesterday and bring in an experienced hockey man with a pedigree, Neely has none of that. Loved the player, can`t stand him as Pres

 

[since76]

Ufa signing horrible
Drafting .....suspect atleast
Trading poor
But still a child as gm...need 2 more years to see
Even if many talk of neely, i still look for clear link or facts that it is him who decide

 

[ODAAT]

Its hard to say but he seems to have done a decent job with restocking the prospect pool, but on the flip side he has been absolute garbage when it comes to making trades and evaluating talent already in the NHL.

in another thread (think it`s the Neely thread), there`s a post mentioning that Neely is actually out doing some pro scouting...............THAT, is frightening and might help explain a few things

 

[missingchicklet]

I voted average. Two main reasons I did not rate him lower: 1) I have no idea how much power he actually has in making decisions and forming the roster, and 2) it's way too early to make a definitive decision on his performance. I think he needs at least another couple years to see how the draft picks are panning out, as well as some experience at cutting deals.

As for his trades and signings of NHL players, he has been well below average so far. Again, I have no way of knowing how much influence other entities within the organization have had in the deals, but they have been poor and have resulted in a crappy roster that will likely not be a playoff-quality roster yet again.

Last year the Bs overpaid for Stempniak and Liles while at the same time did not give some of the youngsters enough ice time for development. Much of that was due to the illusion that the team actually was good and could do some damage in the playoffs. As a result of that thinking they kept Loui past the deadline. And I was fine with keeping Loui because I assumed in doing so they recognized his value to the team and would sign him to a new contract of 4 yrs. Wrong.

The offseason came and the Bs did not value Loui's excellent three-zone play and 30 goals/60+ points enough to give him the money and term he wanted. I fully understand that decision. Not smart at all to give guy with a concussion history $6 mil per/6 yr contract it would have taken to keep him. So I'm seeing management's pov on that one and can live with that.

Enter Backes. The Bs barely missed the playoffs for the second straight year. They just lost a winger who scored 30 goals/60+ points. They had plenty of centers. So what did they do? They went out and signed a 30-something old center at $6 mil per cap hit/5 years who many people who follow him said was trending down in his level of play. Not only that, but the Bs said up front there was a good chance he would play wing. And not only that, he was not as good a scorer as the winger that was not re-signed. Brilliant!

To add insult to injury no help was given to a defensive corps that has been in dire need of a top-four d-man for three seasons running now. And I won't even go into some of the other crap players brought in over the past couple seasons.

So I voted "average," but for those people who voted below that I can understand. DS better hope some of these picks from the last two years pan out. If they don't then this team is going to be on a different level of suck.

 

[ap3lovr]

I understand people upset about this season, but the writing was on the wall before the puck dropped for the first game. This team just didn't have the horses. That is fine, it is fairly clear to me that we are undergoing a rebuild. I just wish that our front office was more honest about it with fans and ownership. I am very excited to see how Lauzon, Zboril, McAvoy, Lindgren turn out. They all have top pairing potential. That is unheard of in our system. I just hope we get to see how these guys pan out.