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

[Bruins4Lifer]

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.

I don't really care if Sweeney stays or goes, but I don't have quite the same concern he's a danger to the future of the team right now like I did when Chiarelli was here his last year or so. He arguably/probably does deserve to lose his job over them but Sweeney's most recent screwups (the Swayman and Lindholm deals) are two that I was onboard with, and seemed like the right/only move to make, at the time.

A lot of Chiarelli's last deals and signings seemed like bad ideas at at the time and were proven bad almost immediately. The Seguin deal stunk immediately. The Boychuck deal wasn't great, and then made worse when he turned around and gave those picks away for Brett Connolly. He re-signed old players to bad deals when he should have traded or walked away from them.

 

[Smitty93]

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?

I think it's incredibly difficult to assign blame to one over the other. I think the easiest thing is to say they're both part of the problem. If they dumped both of them, I don't think we're all going to be sitting here a year from now saying they should have kept one of them. That only Neely or only Sweeney was the problem. Safest move is to just clean house and start fresh, and that shouldn't just be limited to the top of the organization.

 

[BostonBob]

 

[EverettMike]

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.

I think McAvoy is simultaneously a) one of the best defenseman in the world b) not the player today I expected him to be five years ago. I thought he'd be a top 1-3 dman in the league. He's simply not at that level, though.

Or at least he's not when playing for Boston, which is the scary thing that worries me now. I thought maybe this was a Charlie issue before 4 Nations. Then he looked like a Norris quality player against the best in the world and now I fear his stagnation is entirely on the Bruins.

 

[Kally]

I think McAvoy is simultaneously a) one of the best defenseman in the world b) not the player today I expected him to be five years ago. I thought he'd be a top 1-3 dman in the league. He's simply not at that level, though.

Or at least he's not when playing for Boston, which is the scary thing that worries me now. I thought maybe this was a Charlie issue before 4 Nations. Then he looked like a Norris quality player against the best in the world and now I fear his stagnation is entirely on the Bruins.

What did he do with USA 4-Nations team that he doesn’t do with Boston that would put his “stagnation” on the Bruins?

 

[EverettMike]

What did he do with USA 4-Nations team that he doesn’t do with Boston that would put his “stagnation” on the Bruins?

I just said he played at a higher level, so I'm not sure what you're asking.

 

[Kally]

I just said he played at a higher level, so I'm not sure what you're asking.

I’m asking how it’s on the Bruins for his stagnation rather than on him?

 

[EverettMike]

I’m asking how it’s on the Bruins for his stagnation rather than on him?

If he plays at a much higher level away from the Bruins, how is it not?

Yes, he was playing on a much better team. He was also competing against a much better team, so that's a wash. What we're left with is Charlie McAvoy finally looked like the player I expected him to be only when he put on a different jersey.

 

[GordonHowe]

I'm very confident in their abilities.

 

[GordonHowe]

I think it's incredibly difficult to assign blame to one over the other. I think the easiest thing is to say they're both part of the problem. If they dumped both of them, I don't think we're all going to be sitting here a year from now saying they should have kept one of them. That only Neely or only Sweeney was the problem. Safest move is to just clean house and start fresh, and that shouldn't just be limited to the top of the organization.

Won't happen unless they f*** it up to a fare thee well.

Which I don't expect, entirely. It would be more of the same. Spinning wheels for playoff gate.

 

[DKH]

Any Leaks who’s leaving and coming in ? Jimmy Murphy said it’s big

 

[chizzler]

Any Leaks who’s leaving and coming in ? Jimmy Murphy said it’s big

Hope Hill didn’t get it from him.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Any Leaks who’s leaving and coming in ? Jimmy Murphy said it’s big

Well now I know it’ll be a towel boy at best

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I don't really care if Sweeney stays or goes, but I don't have quite the same concern he's a danger to the future of the team right now like I did when Chiarelli was here his last year or so. He arguably/probably does deserve to lose his job over them but Sweeney's most recent screwups (the Swayman and Lindholm deals) are two that I was onboard with, and seemed like the right/only move to make, at the time.

A lot of Chiarelli's last deals and signings seemed like bad ideas at at the time and were proven bad almost immediately. The Seguin deal stunk immediately. The Boychuck deal wasn't great, and then made worse when he turned around and gave those picks away for Brett Connolly. He re-signed old players to bad deals when he should have traded or walked away from them.

I think McAvoy is simultaneously a) one of the best defenseman in the world b) not the player today I expected him to be five years ago. I thought he'd be a top 1-3 dman in the league. He's simply not at that level, though.

Or at least he's not when playing for Boston, which is the scary thing that worries me now. I thought maybe this was a Charlie issue before 4 Nations. Then he looked like a Norris quality player against the best in the world and now I fear his stagnation is entirely on the Bruins.

McAvoy problem isn't Boston, its his shoulder and its unlikely that changes. His first few seasons he played more physically and it was an important part of his game.
Losing Bergeron also impacted his play negatively.

His 4 Nations play was very good but his shoulder didn't hold up an was all of two games. He is still a #1Dman but he is outside the top 10 D in the NHL and will keep trending down.

Bruins win lottery they will definitely take Schaefer given health issues of McAvoy\Lindholm.
I

 

[EverettMike]

McAvoy problem isn't Boston, its his shoulder and its unlikely that changes. His first few seasons he played more physically and it was an important part of his game.
Losing Bergeron also impacted his play negatively.

His 4 Nations play was very good but his shoulder didn't hold up an was all of two games. He is still a #1Dman but he is outside the top 10 D in the NHL and will keep trending down.

Bruins win lottery they will definitely take Schaefer given health issues of McAvoy\Lindholm.
I

His shoulder magically got better for two games? I'm not sure I'm following.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

His shoulder magically got better for two games? I'm not sure I'm following.

He sold out for two games of best on best and hurt it again. Look what Tkachuk did and where he is now. McAvoy has not been the same D man regarding his physical play since 2023 and what other reason can it be? Look at last years PO, one extremely physical game against Florida facing elimination (G5) and that was it over 13G.

 

[22Brad Park]

He sold out for two games of best on best and hurt it again. Look what Tkachuk did and where he is now. McAvoy has not been the same D man regarding his physical play since 2023 and what other reason can it be? Look at last years PO, one extremely physical game against Florida facing elimination (G5) and that was it over 13G.

I would imagine it hurt so bad that he is aware of it and picks his spots carefully.When I was a youth, I hated catching position because sometimes the pitch caught my glove on the thumb and bent it back.Boy did that hurt.It was always on my mind and reason I tried to play other positions.Might be a poor example,but I would imagine Charlie don't want that shoulder pain again so he avoids what caused it which is throwing big checks.

 

[EverettMike]

He sold out for two games of best on best and hurt it again. Look what Tkachuk did and where he is now. McAvoy has not been the same D man regarding his physical play since 2023 and what other reason can it be? Look at last years PO, one extremely physical game against Florida facing elimination (G5) and that was it over 13G.

But his stagnation goes back much farther than 2023.

 

[22Brad Park]

But his stagnation goes back much farther than 2023.

I might be in minority here but I said this b4.Yes Shaefer shoots left and McAvoy right ,but if I was Bruins GM and won draft I would take Schaefer and ask McAvoy to waive if I could hammer out deal with Rangers.Shed that cap hit and injury worries one swoop and still have a franchise D man + add forward skill in the trade.Lots don't like it but I would pull trigger on that scenario.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

But his stagnation goes back much farther than 2023.

Agreed its gone back before 2023 but it has accelerated beginning 2022- 2023.

McAvoy was 2nd Team All Star in the 2021-22 season deservedly, but he has had a lot of nasty shit happen to him between his heart, head and shoulders. He had a good coach in Cassidy thru 2021-22 so can you really point at coaching?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I might be in minority here but I said this b4.Yes Shaefer shoots left and McAvoy right ,but if I was Bruins GM and won draft I would take Schaefer and ask McAvoy to waive if I could hammer out deal with Rangers.Shed that cap hit and injury worries one swoop and still have a franchise D man + add forward skill in the trade.Lots don't like it but I would pull trigger on that scenario.

Or Dobson on the NYI.

 

[dredeye]

They both need to go. I expected nothing less though

 

[RoccoF14]

But his stagnation goes back much farther than 2023.

He was 5th in Norris voting after 2021 and 4th in Norris voting after the 2022 season. Then he had surgery on his shoulder and missed the start of the 2023 season.

I guess you could say he stagnated in 2023, but the bar was already set pretty high....

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

He sold out for two games of best on best and hurt it again. Look what Tkachuk did and where he is now. McAvoy has not been the same D man regarding his physical play since 2023 and what other reason can it be? Look at last years PO, one extremely physical game against Florida facing elimination (G5) and that was it over 13G.

McAvoy's shoulder was injured by a cheapshot crosscheck into the goal post by Armia, no?

 

[Over the volcano]

McAvoy's shoulder was injured by a cheapshot crosscheck into the goal post by Armia, no?

And suspect treatment by the medical staff of team USA.