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Post by stevegm on May 22, 2015 12:16:26 GMT
Yep, they wanted someone who would continue to make the team succeed with the same identity. They wanted someone who listened to their bosses when told not to extend the coach for another 3 yrs until they went to at least another cup final. SOMETHING caused the riff. It didn't just happen for no reason & it wasn't there to begin with. You don't high five people & joke with people you don't "like". You stay clear of them & only associate when you have to. Which was the case from Jan until the end of the season. 3 things hi-lited above, and it would be a stretch to dream up 3 things any more subjective, or out in left field. 1. Using the word "continue" and "same identity" in one's first sentence, does a poor job of driving the point home, that change is necessary. 2. Is there a link of any credible source...any where, publicly stating that the current GM was told not to extend the coach? 3. I thought you played hockey at a reasonably high level. Lots of teammates aren't friends. Some don't care for others, and some have a strong dislike, for a teammate or two. They still "high five" each other, and come across as brothers when the timing calls for it. From January, til the end of the season, there was damn little to high five over.
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Post by UtahGetMeTwo on May 22, 2015 13:30:12 GMT
Why Neely moved on is obvious to me in his statements after PC was let go. Why Sweeney was hired also fits. I don't understand what you just said - Neely moved on? From PC
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Post by stevegm on May 22, 2015 13:32:28 GMT
I'm not one of the more enthusiastic people here about this whole thing, but I also don't like the preference for retreads or the need for a candidate to be desired elsewhere. I think lots of good guys come up through the system and they only get their first shot because the team they work for develops a belief that they can do it. I was staunchly against firing Chiarelli and have not been impressed with the early leadership of Neely-JJ-Sinden, but I actually prefer Sweeney to Shero or McPhee, despite the short resume. I don't actually think that being a GM is so incredibly complicated. He's not a surgeon or an astronaut. He has to have a vision for the team, manage the salary cap, evaluate talent well, and manage his staff. Not an easy task, but also not one that requires a real special resume or prior GM experience. In short, I didn't like the process, but I don't think Sweeney is any less likely to succeed than someone with lots of experience who's being courted by other crappy teams. I think Sweeney has just a good chance to succeed. I'd take smarts and good judgement over everything else for this job, including experience. In strong agreement with the bold. I like Sweeney.
But that doesn't cover off an incredibly stupid corporate decision. The perception of stability, and straight forwardness is extremely important in business. The Bruins have swam upstream in this area for decades. It's affected the pool of players who wanted to play there, as well as the executives that wanted to work there. 7 or 8 years ago, that started to change. Boston came to be considered a great place to work and play. The "tightness" factor that went through the whole organization was talked about, written about, and envied. After a historic collapse against Philadelphia, stewardship kept their faculties..addressed the "real" issues, and came back to a championship. They navigated the bad times quietly and calmly. The Iginla debacle was handled well, but things kind of started to go downhill, when the club couldn't resist kicking Seguin a bit, on his way out of town. I didn't mind the deal, but I didn't like the way he was treated by the Bruins. Fortunately, when Elvis came calling...all of that disappeared. Last year was a dream season, but having 4 teams still playing when the Bruins went home felt disappointing. They were certainly right there though. This year all Hell broke loose. I wrote early in the season,(late Oct/early Nov) the Bruins could be in serious trouble, and was chastised by many. Injuries, and what appeared to be a "who cares" attitude among the players seemed to be so obvious. About 1 game in 5 they looked every bit as dominant as they did in game 7 against Vancouver, but they followed it up with crap. We saw...many, many times how "good" this team was....we just didn't see it with any consistentcy. Too many nights off, and injuries. Same thing in LA. Instead of a rally to the troops...at the most critical time...the finger pointing started. The number of those knighted with the opportunity to finger point...increased, making it all the more difficult for those in the trenches to deal with the realities. Clandestine visits to the dressing room by the president, followed up by public sniping back and forth, between virtually everyone not wearing a Bruins uniform ensued. Despite this...the Bruins are solidly in the show with about a week to go in the regular season. Almost on cue...the team lays down, but puts together 2 really good periods in their final game of the season, when obviously...it's too late... barring multiple miracle's. We all know now Neely and Chirelli were never too tight. We also know Cam was the boss, and he could have basically dictated every minute thing he wanted done, and PC would have had to do it. He had the power. There are clauses in every contract that hold employees accountable to superiors, and their contract doesn't protect them, if they fail to comply.
But here's the big thing.
Bruins customers are being sold that the GM is the biggest cause of this years struggle. Obviously they can't go back in years...they have to make it about this year.
That's where the executive lost some league wide respect. There are all kinds of much bigger reasons why the Bruins failed this year, and leadership should have had the vision, and expertise to confront the real issues, and live with the little personal inconveniences til later.
Here we are going into June, leadership, and the new GM are speaking riddles, and if one interprets the sum of what they've all been saying...it screams the first domino to fall should have been the coach. Many hockey people would suggest a complete front office purge would "appear" too knee jerk and reactionary for a team with this kind of recent history. I agree with that, and I'm betting the Bruins are now weighing the politics and the economic, and perception of a coaching change at this point...much more than the obvious logic of that same move. And rightly so, but they're getting there too late. Harry's been brought in, and regardless of how small the sphere of influence is...it's now out in the open, he's back. Cam saw the need not only to comment...but bring it up. That says something.
Some think I hate Neely. That's the only way they can process team criticism. I don't. As I see it.. he pointed a gun at his head, when he should have known better. Regardless what anyone here says, PC getting a promotion, and interest from other teams...all within a week is embarrassing for the Bruins. If the Bruins don't come out of the gate like a house on fire next year...the bullseye is gonna be Neely. Maybe Claude if he's still around takes the first fall...but it's not gonna be Sweeney, or the new coach, or the players...it's gonna be Neely. So imo, he's put himself in a spot with only 1 way out...and that's straight up. There was no need for that. He could have replaced the coach, when there were some good candidates around. He could have made the deals "he" wanted. Paid the players amounts "he" wanted, and let his GM do the grunt work. Replace him when it's more convenient.
And the hockey establishment would not have blinked an eye.
"Probably", my last post on the subject. Those sighing a breath of relief here, should be aware this little drama will only get bigger when the season starts. the comparisons, and second guessing will be everywhere.
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Post by UtahGetMeTwo on May 22, 2015 13:34:18 GMT
I was one that wanted someone from the outside but after his press conference and hearing his interview on the Sports Hub this morning I'm sold on Sweeney . I just like the way he spoke. Now, let's see all right things he said in words become concrete actions. I'm very interested to see how he goes about improving this team over the summer. I finally watched all of Sweeney's interviews and the hole press conference. I got the sense he knows exactly, precisely what he wants to do. I get the feeling he will move swiftly and decisively with the cap and trades this summer.
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Post by islamorada on May 22, 2015 13:41:14 GMT
Firstly, CJs salary is one of the highest in the NHL. I doubt JJjr or Cam did not agree to the amounts. Fluto was correct when he said the Boychuk trade sucked the air out of the locker room. Injuries compounded the problem. Rookies not performing added more dimension to the "failure". A riff? I would go back to the Boychuk trade. A certain element was missing the past season. "Soft" is often used by the media, I don't buy that argument. Andrew Ference was not tough, but he always did the right thing at the right time. Where were those types on the current team? Personnel moves angered Cam and eventually JJjr, then the "failure" compounded the issue. The money lost in not making the playoffs is probably a better argument on whether or not CJ should have received a three year extension. His remaining contract amounts to a couple rounds in the playoffs. Things change, CJ should stay imo but he is a goner if I read the "tea leaves" correctly.
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Post by badhabitude on May 22, 2015 15:20:12 GMT
I was one that wanted someone from the outside but after his press conference and hearing his interview on the Sports Hub this morning I'm sold on Sweeney . I just like the way he spoke. Now, let's see all right things he said in words become concrete actions. I'm very interested to see how he goes about improving this team over the summer. I finally watched all of Sweeney's interviews and the hole press conference. I got the sense he knows exactly, precisely what he wants to do. I get the feeling he will move swiftly and decisively with the cap and trades this summer. No Bruins fan could watch that and not be impressed. He said all the right things, he was quick on his feet and eloquent. He's done the talk, now he's got to walk the walk.
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Post by 50belowzero on May 22, 2015 15:25:29 GMT
I finally watched all of Sweeney's interviews and the hole press conference. I got the sense he knows exactly, precisely what he wants to do. I get the feeling he will move swiftly and decisively with the cap and trades this summer. No Bruins fan could watch that and not be impressed. He said all the right things, he was quick on his feet and eloquent. He's done the talk, now he's got to walk the walk.You can never have enough Finns.
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Post by dannycater on May 22, 2015 20:59:39 GMT
Who is this Sweeney you speak of, Bob or Don?
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Post by badhabitude on May 23, 2015 3:48:11 GMT
Who is this Sweeney you speak of, Bob or Don? Chowda saw Bob Sweeney on the NESN crawl. Other sources have said Don Sweeney. We're trying to figure this out. Right now we're confused. In a few weeks we may have an answer.
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Post by kelvana33 on May 23, 2015 4:17:37 GMT
Who is this Sweeney you speak of, Bob or Don? Chowda saw Bob Sweeney on the NESN crawl. Other sources have said Don Sweeney. We're trying to figure this out. Right now we're confused. In a few weeks we may have an answer. It's actually Tim.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 13:28:11 GMT
Who is this Sweeney you speak of, Bob or Don? Chowda saw Bob Sweeney on the NESN crawl. Other sources have said Don Sweeney. We're trying to figure this out. Right now we're confused. In a few weeks we may have an answer. They had Bob Sweeney at first..............then probably seeing their mistake changed it to Don Sweeney. The confusion is only there if one hadn't heard of Don Sweeney .............as in the case of one of our fine Florida contributors.
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Post by ialwayslikedmarcotte on May 23, 2015 14:44:29 GMT
For crying' out loud. Every GM has to have his rookie gig. The greatest GMs in history probably had the same bad things said about them that Sweeney is now enduring when they landed their first job.
He's clearly smart. He played more games in a Bruins uniform than everyone else in franchise history with the exception of the Chief and Bourque. How can anyone dismiss that "experience"? He was an undersized overachiever with a lot to prove; and he proved it. Have some faith. Save the bashing for when he's earned a firing.
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Post by badhabitude on May 24, 2015 15:20:25 GMT
For crying' out loud. Every GM has to have his rookie gig. The greatest GMs in history probably had the same bad things said about them that Sweeney is now enduring when they landed their first job. He's clearly smart. He played more games in a Bruins uniform than everyone else in franchise history with the exception of the Chief and Bourque. How can anyone dismiss that "experience"? He was an undersized overachiever with a lot to prove; and he proved it. Have some faith. Save the bashing for when he's earned a firing. In praise of Sweeney. When he was at development camp he demonstrated the edges skating drill to the rookies, he did it better than probably all of them. So the guy can still skate. He seems like he keeps himself in pretty good condition. He seemed to get along really well with the players, they seemed to approach him more than anyone else on the coaching staff. He actually got his degree in economics at Harvard, not the hardest major, but not the easiest, either, so he's demonstrated he is pretty bright. Having said that, does it have anything to do with his potential for being a GM? No. However, I will bash when he makes a bad move and not wait until he earns a firing.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 19:21:05 GMT
Some think I hate Neely. That's the only way they can process team criticism. I don't.
I don't know who hates Neely and who doesn't. I'd have to review everyone's posts to have that opinion.
I've just made reference to the newfound "Neely hate" that has arisen here, the day Chiarelli was fired.
i will admit to being among those (apparently completely wrong) who felt Neely was just a dumb, empty suit. I thought his job was to impress the troops in the occasional skate in a Bruins sweatsuit during practice and to cheer in the press box when the Bruins finally would score a goal.
It appears he really does have a management job, and an opinion. Who knew? Hope he doesn't break anything.
But the "hate" I'm referring to is the nasty, snarky, insulting remarks hurled the formerly-revered Neely's way just because the guy who was responsible for the teams Cap problem got fired after a playoff DNQ. And Neely apparently didnt like him. Those people have every right to hate Neely if they choose to... but the description of "Neely hate" has nothing to do with "processing criticism" and disagreement.
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Post by davinator on May 25, 2015 15:33:01 GMT
Meanwhile, Don's first day of work seems to be that he's moving all his stuff into his new office. He's wondering about the Bruins logo stapler and tape dispenser and if a GM should have that on his desk or if he should give it over to a secretary or something... I mean shouldn't we be hearing something a little more? We know he interviewed with players. We heard a 100 times about "communication is key" in the press conferences - so where is it? Patience, grasshopper. You probably yell "C'mon, hurry the fawk up!" at the popcorn in your microwave. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) ...and "Shoot! Shoot!" on the Power Play.
DS is simply getting his Shiite together and planning for the Draft. It will ramp up soon methinks.
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