Must say I was surprised at the speed with which we've started to hear some pretty loud boos and general displeasure. Bruins fans, and I'm generalizing here, are a little bit of an odd bunch. Will quite happily shrug off multiple playoff disappointments and lack of true success, but if the team is genuinely uncompetitive for even 5 minutes then people start losing their minds.
But of course the two are linked, twice over. If the franchise won more Cups, then down times probably become more palatable. And if management will not rebuild because ownership are afraid of the consequences, it really limits their ability to construct a truly competitive team. Which is not to say now is the time to rebuild, just that if it's never on the table except in direst need, then you're limiting your options and your potential pathways to success become pretty narrow. So perhaps the reaction of the fanbase can be counter-productive.
Regardless, we're on the beginnings of the re-tool path here, so can only let it play out now and see what happens. If the paying fan doesn't like it, then, well, stop paying. Not much else to be said.