Management Is it time for Delaware North to give the Golden Parachute to Cam Neely?

[EverettMike]

What tools does he have that translates to being a strong AGM candidate?

Uh, he played for the Bruins!?!?

JFC stop embarrassing yourself.

 

[Hookslide]

I'd like to see the Bruins completely dismantle their entire front office and pro scouting staff. Coaches too (except Bob of course).

And recruit the best young minds from across the hockey world to coach, scout, and manage this franchise. No more former Bruins (Quaider can stay though). Sorry to any local university alumni, but just because you played or coached at BU/BC/Harvard/Providence College/etc. shouldn't give you an inside track either. I don't want the keys handed to Chara or Bergeron just because they were great players.

Neely's fingerprints are all over this franchise. Every off season he pushes Sweeney to rectify and react to what Neely perceives as the Bruins issues. Whether that is firing coaches, pursuing free agents, trading away players. And it usually always leads to mistakes. Always reactive, never proactive. And never patient.

Sweeney is a smart guy but he talks out of both sides of his mouth to the press like a politician. Thing is we'll never know which moves are moves he pushed for, and which are Neely's. Fact is, he's had trouble acquiring top players during his tenure. His best players (for the most part) came from previous regimes, that's just a fact.

Scott Bradley is like a parasite, that nugget in the toilet you just can't seem to flush. I can't comprehend how he's lasted this long. If there are two constants across this franchise in my time as a fan now 34 years. 1) it's they've always leaned more towards natural physical gifts like height/weight, big guys who skate well, etc. than they have towards hockey sense or hockey IQ in their trades/signings/drafting, and 2) Scott Bradley as a key employee in the front office. This trend predates Neely and Sweeney. Bradley is the constant across these eras. Does it mean he's to blame for this mindset? I don't know.

I don't know much about Langenbrunner other than they made a point to waste a draft pick on his kid.

Evan Gold is supposedly strong in manipulating the salary cap so maybe he has some usefulness still.

The pro scouting group has been an abomination for years. Who exactly recommended the likes of Max Jones and Mark Fraser? They need better pro scouts and more of them.

I agree with much of what you say, and I am not one to get all excited about the local connections, but there is one that I think might be worth looking into, Jay Pandolfo. What do you think.

 

[Ladyfan]

What tools does he have that translates to being a strong AGM candidate?

exactly...and WHY would he want to do it?

 

[goldenblack]

What tools does he have that translates to being a strong AGM candidate?

I think Sakic is a brilliant president of hockey OPs. So it's possible that position is the one Bergy will be best suited for. And I find Joe Sakic and Patrice Bergeron to be very similar men.

-Cool under pressure.
-Command total respect.
-Spent their entire careers with one team, which means a unique devotion to the market.
-Saw the game totally uniquely. And can see players who have the same senses.
-Incredible on the ethics side. Ethics in business can lead to spectacular things.
-Very patient. See the big picture. Which again in business, is a big deal.
-Quiet leaders. You don't need a loud exec (Neely style). You need a smart one.
-Very community minded, which today makes execs really stand out.
-Fierce about learning on the job, which means you can be good at anything you decide to tackle.

I just find the similarities so striking in how they approached hockey, that to me it makes good sense that he be groomed for that, if one day he ever wants it.

 

[BruinDust]

I agree with much of what you say, and I am not one to get all excited about the local connections, but there is one that I think might be worth looking into, Jay Pandolfo. What do you think.

I think I'd rather go with someone younger. I really don't know much about him as head coach but he has that NJ Devils Jacques Lemaire disciple stink to him. Now that might not have any bearing on his coaching style whatsoever, just my initial reaction.

 

[DaStinger]

The day Bergy is assistant GM I will fist pump like a lunatic. That man has all the tools to me.

How about he tries his hand at coaching in minor leagues first. If he eventually gets there great but that is not a solution right now.

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

If it’s anything like my organization, the president should be in charge of the dog and pony show, probations, playing golf, and kissing babies.

The general manager should be given the keys to running the ship.

Do we get the sense that ownership was happy with Cam’s execution of the centennial?

I want someone brought in to be gm AND PoHO. From outside the org. Give them all the keys and if they mess up it’s one person to fire. Wasn’t Chia both gm and pres when they won the Cup? I don’t remember when Neely took over.
Absolutely no to Chara/Bergeron in management or coaching. Leave their legacies as fantastic players and playoff heroes intact.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

How about he tries his hand at coaching in minor leagues first. If he eventually gets there great but that is not a solution right now.

Show me a player of that caliber who went and coached in the minors.

They were talking about front office, not coaching anyway.

 

[goldenblack]

Uh, he played for the Bruins!?!?

JFC stop embarrassing yourself.

Sakic retired in 2009. He joined their front office in 2011 as an executive advisor and worked his way up fast. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your best and brightest and doing the same, if they want it.

 

[EverettMike]

Sakic retired in 2009. He joined their front office in 2011 as an executive advisor and worked his way up fast. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your best and brightest and doing the same, if they want it.

Is there something wrong with lightening up and making fun of Bruins ownership's preference for keeping everything in-house?

 

[PB37]

I think Sakic is a brilliant president of hockey OPs. So it's possible that position is the one Bergy will be best suited for. And I find Joe Sakic and Patrice Bergeron to be very similar men.

-Cool under pressure.
-Command total respect.
-Spent their entire careers with one team, which means a unique devotion to the market.
-Saw the game totally uniquely. And can see players who have the same senses.
-Incredible on the ethics side. Ethics in business can lead to spectacular things.
-Very patient. See the big picture. Which again in business, is a big deal.
-Quiet leaders. You don't need a loud exec (Neely style). You need a smart one.
-Very community minded, which today makes execs really stand out.
-Fierce about learning on the job, which means you can be good at anything you decide to tackle.

I just find the similarities so striking in how they approached hockey, that to me it makes good sense that he be groomed for that, if one day he ever wants it.

You're forgetting the path that Sakic's Avalanche took to get good. They had one of the worst regular seasons post 04 lockout ever with 48 points. They needed to suck for several years and acquire high draft picks. They started to get better but were bounced out in the 2nd round three straight years, including one of those times as the President Trophy winner. They didn't win the Cup until about 10 years into Sakic's regime - all the while his legacy took some hits. I'd rather not see Bergeron's name go thru the ringer trying to make the Bruins a Cup winner - they need to hire someone outside the organization with some experience.

 

[Shaun]

the only person i'm confident can turn this around is brad stevens

 

[BB79]

It's the best thing the organization could do, They'll never do it because old boys club but we can all dream.

Time to replace Sweeney and Neely with newer retired players, like Chara, Bergeron, Rask..lol

 

[smithformeragent]

Neely sucks, get rid of him, bring back gold socks.


Profit

Hahaha you beat me to it!

First question I ask of any potential replacement is their feelings on the stupid black socks!

 

[McGarnagle]

Only person I'd seriously consider to run hockey operations is Peter Chiarelli