TSN: Sweeney praised by other GMs for work on TDL day

[4ORRBRUIN]

So someone is getting fired then lol

 

[Bruin4]

Jacobs is selling

 

[DominicT]

There's an issue here too.

 

[GatorMike]

On one hand, Neely and Sweeney deserve to be fired for how they handled the Summer of 2024.

On the other hand, I could see a scenario where most potential candidates would take one look at the payroll, the lack of prospects, and ownership's desire to compete every... single... year... and figure that the odds were such that they'd get fired by the time the team was competitive again.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Not good.

 

[Bruin4]

So someone is getting fired then lol

Well he did say "expected"

"Sources say no changes are expected in bruins front office"

 

[ranold26]

The only change I see happening is the coach.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

There's an issue here too.

What issue do you see? Not disagreeing you just understand more.

 

[LJReborn]

The only change I see happening is the coach.

Of course. He should get minimum five coaches like every other GM

 

[UncleRico]

Another decade without a cup

 

[EverettMike]

You know the great thing about sports? They keep score. We can (and should) talk about "what ifs," "coulda beens," and luck both bad and good, but at the end of the day the score is what it is, hard and fast.

So when I see people defend the abysmal prospect pool they have by saying "It's not fair to criticize Sweeney because he was trading away picks to make the NHL team better to try and win a Stanley Cup, so without high picks they couldn't draft quality prospects" that's reasonable. However, even if we don't worry about assessing those deals and whether they were wise, and instead just give him credit for trying, guess what? He didn't win. Outside of one single season he hasn't had any playoff success.

Just because you try doesn't mean you are free of your record and responsibility. If you're going to sacrifice the future for today, you better win today. He never did, and the future is, at best, not looking great. Not just because of the prospect pool, either, but because of the lack of NHL talent and some very bad long-term deals.

I genuinely don't understand the argument for keeping him at this point. At least before you could point to the regular season success, but that was gone even before the trade deadline. Now what do we have? Pasta, who he inherited, McAvoy, who while very good hasn't developed into the player we expected, and Swayman, who half of this fanbase wants thrown into an active volcano.

Their fourth greatest asset is the pick they're about to get for absolutely sucking this year. And this is all 100% on Don Sweeney, who has been GM for a decade. No one else to blame but him now.

 

[ranold26]

Keep Sweeney. I want them to suck next year too. Two year retool with Misa and McKenna possibly walking through the door. Tons of cap space too.
Then fire his ass.
Git R Dun

 

[DominicT]

What issue do you see? Not disagreeing you just understand more.

I would rather one guy call the shots.

 

[Dr Hook]

I would rather one guy call the shots.

I am right there with you, and have been for a while. They can have a President, but he needs to be kissing babies, sucking up to sponsors and worrying about the business end. The GM should be President of Hockey Ops or whatever they want to label it and make all the decisions.

 

[Smitty93]

You know the great thing about sports? They keep score. We can (and should) talk about "what ifs," "coulda beens," and luck both bad and good, but at the end of the day the score is what it is, hard and fast.

So when I see people defend the abysmal prospect pool they have by saying "It's not fair to criticize Sweeney because he was trading away picks to make the NHL team better to try and win a Stanley Cup, so without high picks they couldn't draft quality prospects" that's reasonable. However, even if we don't worry about assessing those deals and whether they were wise, and instead just give him credit for trying, guess what? He didn't win. Outside of one single season he hasn't had any playoff success.

Just because you try doesn't mean you are free of your record and responsibility. If you're going to sacrifice the future for today, you better win today. He never did, and the future is, at best, not looking great. Not just because of the prospect pool, either, but because of the lack of NHL talent and some very bad long-term deals.

I genuinely don't understand the argument for keeping him at this point. At least before you could point to the regular season success, but that was gone even before the trade deadline. Now what do we have? Pasta, who he inherited, McAvoy, who while very good hasn't developed into the player we expected, and Swayman, who half of this fanbase wants thrown into an active volcano.

Their fourth greatest asset is the pick they're about to get for absolutely sucking this year. And this is all 100% on Don Sweeney, who has been GM for a decade. No one else to blame but him now.

I agree with everything here besides the McAvoy part. I think he's become just about the best case scenario from when he was drafted. But, yes, the early regression the last couple of years is definitely disappointing, and there should be legitimate concerns that we've seen his best play.

 

[LJReborn]

Aren’t most front offices in all sports collaborative at this point?

 

[bigbadbruins1]

Great, he recovered like 1/3 of the picks he dealt out, and he flopped on the other 2/3 draft picks he actually made.

Still want him fired.

 

[Dr Hook]

Aren’t most front offices in all sports collaborative at this point?

Probably, and there is nothing wrong with a team, but at the end of the day, someone has to be the one to make the final decisions. In the Bruins case, is it Sweeney until Neely disagrees then Cam steps in? Sounds like the Cassidy situation. They need one guy calling the final shots- in this case, if Cam wants final say, then Cam should be Director of Hockey Ops and GM and Don should be AGM with a portfolio. Otherwise, Cam should butt the hell out and let Don do the job he is well-paid to do. If he doesn't like Don' decisions, then fire the guy or demote him and do it himself.

 

[bp14]

You know the great thing about sports? They keep score. We can (and should) talk about "what ifs," "coulda beens," and luck both bad and good, but at the end of the day the score is what it is, hard and fast.

So when I see people defend the abysmal prospect pool they have by saying "It's not fair to criticize Sweeney because he was trading away picks to make the NHL team better to try and win a Stanley Cup, so without high picks they couldn't draft quality prospects" that's reasonable. However, even if we don't worry about assessing those deals and whether they were wise, and instead just give him credit for trying, guess what? He didn't win. Outside of one single season he hasn't had any playoff success.

Just because you try doesn't mean you are free of your record and responsibility. If you're going to sacrifice the future for today, you better win today. He never did, and the future is, at best, not looking great. Not just because of the prospect pool, either, but because of the lack of NHL talent and some very bad long-term deals.

I genuinely don't understand the argument for keeping him at this point. At least before you could point to the regular season success, but that was gone even before the trade deadline. Now what do we have? Pasta, who he inherited, McAvoy, who while very good hasn't developed into the player we expected, and Swayman, who half of this fanbase wants thrown into an active volcano.

Their fourth greatest asset is the pick they're about to get for absolutely sucking this year. And this is all 100% on Don Sweeney, who has been GM for a decade. No one else to blame but him now.

Jeez. Every time I find myself becoming a member of Team Sweeney I read something like this.

Mike you’re spot on and I can’t argue other than exactly how you argued yourself. The scoreboard doesn’t lie. Though I do sympathize with the idea that he still might be the right guy for the job.

I think he’s above average in the trade market, if not excellent. I think he’s probably average drafting wise though the 2015 draft will obviously define him. Where I take serious issue is with free agency, where I think he’s terrible with the big fish.

Overall, if the coach he hired didn’t screw up the goalie tandem two years ago or if Pasta or Marchand finished a breakaway might he have a ring? Yes for sure. Is it then fair to blame that on him? As you point out, probably. I just don’t have the faith they could hire someone who is as capable in at least half the job. And I think you could make the case that he’s improved as he’s gone along. And this last deadline I think was terrific.

Oh well. Gun to my head I’d be fine if he’s gone as long as Neely goes with him.

 

[Smitty93]

I want to know why Sweeney deserves a chance now when Chiarelli didn't in 2015? My memory's not perfect, but I don't remember many banging the table to keep him then. Both only missed the playoffs in their first and most recent years. The prospect pool isn't better today than it was then. The core isn't better today than it was then. Chiarelli had at least won a Cup. And he was only a year removed from a President's trophy and two years removed from a Cup Final appearance, while Sweeney is two years removed from a President's trophy and six years removed from a Cup Final appearance. They both had their share of embarrassing decisions.

I was ready to see Chiarelli go then, just as I'm ready to see Sweeney go now. You can't just keep him because you're worried the next guy will be worse. That's an attitude that keeps bad organizations bad. I know what they have, and that person's simply just not good enough.

 

[Bruin4]

Kiss of Death

No changes expected in Bruins’ front office for 2025-26

Don Sweeney has been the general manager of the Boston Bruins since May 2015.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I want to know why Sweeney deserves a chance now when Chiarelli didn't in 2015? My memory's not perfect, but I don't remember many banging the table to keep him then. Both only missed the playoffs in their first and most recent years. The prospect pool isn't better today than it was then. The core isn't better today than it was then. Chiarelli had at least won a Cup. And he was only a year removed from a President's trophy and two years removed from a Cup Final appearance, while Sweeney is two years removed from a President's trophy and six years removed from a Cup Final appearance. They both had their share of embarrassing decisions.

I was ready to see Chiarelli go then, just as I'm ready to see Sweeney go now. You can't just keep him because you're worried the next guy will be worse. That's an attitude that keeps bad organizations bad. I know what they have, and that person's simply just not good enough.

He decided to go for full control and got into a power struggle with Neely. He lost.

 

[LJReborn]

Probably, and there is nothing wrong with a team, but at the end of the day, someone has to be the one to make the final decisions. In the Bruins case, is it Sweeney until Neely disagrees then Cam steps in? Sounds like the Cassidy situation. They need one guy calling the final shots- in this case, if Cam wants final say, then Cam should be Director of Hockey Ops and GM and Don should be AGM with a portfolio. Otherwise, Cam should butt the hell out and let Don do the job he is well-paid to do. If he doesn't like Don' decisions, then fire the guy or demote him and do it himself.

Cam and Chiarelli seemed to know how to add to the pieces they inherited.

Why are we assuming he always butts in? People seem to think the past decade has been superb so wouldn’t it be fine then if Neely does call the shots behind the scenes? Do people change their opinion because it’s not their guy??

Lou Lams calls all the shots. Wouldn’t want that. What if Neely resigns and Chara is the new President. Do you want Sweeney calling all the shots? Or reverse, Sweeney is prez and chara GM. Z calls all the shots?

The Neely holds Sweeney back myth grows every offseason IMO while only one has won a cup in their current position. Maybe Cam isn’t the problem? Maybe Sweeney owns more than people fantasize about?

 

[Dr Hook]

Cam and Chiarelli seemed to know how to add to the pieces they inherited.

Why are we assuming he always butts in? People seem to think the past decade has been superb so wouldn’t it be fine then if Neely does call the shots behind the scenes? Do people change their opinion because it’s not their guy??

Lou Lams calls all the shots. Wouldn’t want that. What if Neely resigns and Chara is the new President. Do you want Sweeney calling all the shots? Or reverse, Sweeney is prez and chara GM. Z calls all the shots?

The Neely holds Sweeney back myth grows every offseason IMO while only one has won a cup in their current position

I think you misread my intention here. I don't know that Cam "holds Sweeney back" and I am not on the conspiracy train with Cam butting in (except we know he did in the Cassidy situation and it seems like the UFA moves last summer were Cam-oriented after his post=season comments), nor am I defending Sweeney. I'd be fine if it was Cam as it has nothing to do with "my guy.". Yes I want Sweeney calling all the shots if he is the GM. I want Cam calling all the shots if he is the one in actual charge of the hockey side with no 'GM." I don't likethe current situation as a model. I am cool with you or other people thinking decisions by committee are okay, but I have had terrible professional experiences with that model of decision making so I am against it. Give me Don or give me Cam, but I want only one guy making the final decisions on the direction of the team: the draft choices, the trades, the UFA signings, the works.

 

[BMC]

Kiss of Death

No changes expected in Bruins’ front office for 2025-26

Don Sweeney has been the general manager of the Boston Bruins since May 2015.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

If Charlie Jacobs or Cam says "we've got confidence in Don" then that is the kiss of death.