The Boston Bruins hired Don Sweeney to replace Peter Chiarelli as general manager.
Sweeney is the team’s ninth general manager, having previously worked as an assistant for six years and three in
player development and hockey operations.
This season, the Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years, and Chiarelli lost his job as a result.
Sweeney, 48, takes over a veteran, cap-strapped roster and coach Claude Julien, whose future remains uncertain.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reaching the finals in 2013 with the same core, Boston expects success,
and Sweeney understands that.
“I am fully aware of everyone’s expectations to move the organization forward,” Sweeney said in a statement. “The
challenges ahead rests with the players, the coaches and the management group to work hard to make the necessary
changes to bring the Bruins back to the forefront of contending for the Stanley Cup.”
During an afternoon news conference at TD Garden, CEO Charlie Jacobs and team president Cam Neely will
introduce Sweeney.
With Sweeney hired by the Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs now have the only other open GM position in the NHL.
READ MORE..
Don Sweeney has had a few hits and misses in NHL free agency since becoming the Boston Bruins’ general manager
in 2015.
Sweeney’s free agency failures most likely include the controversial summer signings of Matt Beleskey and David
Backes. Sweeney wasn’t expected to do much in free agency last summer since the Bruins had essentially no salary
cap flexibility. Despite these limits, he eventually signed a number of seasoned players.
Several of these moves have paid significant benefits for Boston, and the timing couldn’t be better. The Bruins lost a
lot of outstanding players this summer, including Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Taylor Hall,
among others. Nonetheless, they continue to lead the Eastern Conference and are among the top Stanley Cup
candidates.
Sweeney’s free agency additions have contributed significantly to the team’s early-season success.
