Bruins Fire Cassidy

RSN Diaspora

molests goats for comedy
SoSH Member
Jul 29, 2005
11,355
Washington, DC
Bruins Relieve Bruce Cassidy Of Coaching Duties
by Boston Bruins @NHLBruins / Boston Bruins

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, June 6, that the team has relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach.

Cassidy has served as head coach of the team since February 7, 2017.

The search for the next head coach of the Boston Bruins will begin immediately.

"Today I informed Bruce Cassidy that I was making a head coaching change," said Sweeney. "After 14 years working with Bruce, this was an extremely difficult decision. I want to thank and acknowledge Bruce for all his work and success with the Bruins organization. His head coaching record for the Bruins is impressive, and we are appreciative of Bruce both professionally and personally. After taking some time to fully digest everything, I felt that the direction of our team for both this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice. I want to wish Bruce, Julie, Shannon and Cole much success as a family and with their future opportunities."

"On behalf of the Jacobs family, I'd like to thank Bruce and his family for their dedication to the Boston Bruins organization," said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs. "Throughout his time in both Providence and Boston, Bruce's deep passion for the game and pride he showed in representing the franchise was undeniable. We wish Bruce, Julie and his entire family nothing but success in the future and thank them for all they've done for the team both on and off the ice."

"I want to thank Bruce for his time and service to the Boston Bruins organization over the last 14 years," said Bruins President Cam Neely. "Bruce has been a fantastic coach and has helped this team win many games and achieve success over his tenure behind the bench. I also want to extend my gratitude to Bruce and his family for everything they've done over the years to support the New England community and Bruins organization. We wish them continued success in the future."

"I have the utmost confidence in Don to conduct a thorough search to identify the best candidate that is going to help our team reach its full potential," Neely added.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
46,775
Hartford, CT
What is the point of this? Signal a pivot to rebuilding/give the fans and media a body?

Sure seems like a wrong place/wrong time situation for Cassidy.
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

critical thinker
SoSH Member
Dec 19, 2009
9,386
Some might say this came a year too late, but at least it wasn't two years too late.

Thanks for getting outcoached by a whiny Berube and allowing your team to get bullied en route to a seven-game series loss with the Cup on the line, Bruce.
 

Jordu

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2003
8,962
Brookline
Cassidy coached effectively with the talent he was given. Clearly, there’s a difference in philosophy between Neely/Sweeney and Cassidy about the players on the roster should play the game.

This team is going to get worse quickly under the Neely/Sweeney system.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
i bet they try to thread the needle to stay competitive and end up in competitive purgatory for the next 10 years. Not good enough to be better than an 8 seed, not bad enough to get a top pick. Completely rudderless franchise.
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,582
South Boston
I’m fine with it. If they’re going to have to play a bunch of kids next year due to age, injury, and retirement, probably better to make this move now.
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,993
Newton
Why is everyone in full on “FIRE THEM ALL” mode? This team was in the Finals three years ago, they’ve been in 3 in 11 years.
I get that this team was disappointing and that Sweeney has dug a bit of a hole here. But the sky is falling stuff seems odd to me as a pretty casual fan.
 

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,808
The back of your computer
There are now six vacancies (BOS, DAL, DET, LV, PHI, WIN), two interim coaches (FLA, CHI) and a team with a expiring coach (EDM).

The lead coaching candidate is Barry Trotz, who is a Winnipeg native and has already interviewed for the job. Other experienced candidates include Mike Babcock, Peter DeBoer, Claude Julien, Paul Maurice, Dave Tippett, Rick Tocchet, John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault.

I believe Sweeney will need to look for an offensively-minded coach, who can get more out of the team in 5v5.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Why is everyone in full on “FIRE THEM ALL” mode? This team was in the Finals three years ago, they’ve been in 3 in 11 years.
I get that this team was disappointing and that Sweeney has dug a bit of a hole here. But the sky is falling stuff seems odd to me as a pretty casual fan.
That finals team 3 years ago was largely built by Chiarelli.

Sweeney has done little since then (with the exception of McAvoy) to make the team better both short term and long term. He seemingly has no rooted philosophy to team building, and has hamstrung the team with some really, really bad signings.
 

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,808
The back of your computer
Mike DeFabo
@MikeDeFabo

17m

The NHL coaching carousel is a WILD ride. The three finalists for the 2019-20 Jack Adams Award were Bruce Cassidy, John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault. All three have been fired within two years of being considered the best coaches in the league.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,300
deep inside Guido territory
What an absolute joke. The lack of young talent is why they’re where they are currently. An aging, overpriced roster that isn’t a true contender. Sweeney is why they’re in this position with his utter failures in the draft and swings/misses in FA but he keeps his job. Seriously, fuck the Jacobs.
 

MiracleOfO2704

not AWOL
SoSH Member
Jul 12, 2005
9,528
The Island
A smart GM goes outside the box and brings in a coach with an uptempo style that can help the Bruins transition while keeping their defensive shape.

This GM, however, is probably kicking the tired on Frank de Boer or someone like that.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,278

sharke5

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 17, 2005
13
Typical that it was announced after the afternoon news cycle. How about they give Sweeney and Neely a year to prove that this was the right decision? If they finish worse off, then they should be shown the door. Nice that they created cap space at the deadline. Would have been nicer if they got Copp. Trying is not enough. Sweeney and Neely are paid to "do". They have not done. This just feels very Sindenesque.
 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
43,592
Here
It’s worth it alone to keep DeBrusk, but the problem is they didn’t also fire Sweeney and DeBrusk will probably leave anyway.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
46,775
Hartford, CT
Honest question, as I don’t pretend to be familiar with their inner machinations: why is Neely so loyal to Sweeney? Does he actually think Sweeney is effective despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary? Does Sweeney give Neely a lot of practical power over personnel? Does he just like him?

The biggest problem, of course, is that the Jacobs seem content with the Bruins being…..good (at least to-date), if not great due to years of bad decisions, but wouldn’t Neely want to salvage this thing by cleaning the slate at GM?
 

Laser Show

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 7, 2008
5,094
Honest question, as I don’t pretend to be familiar with their inner machinations: why is Neely so loyal to Sweeney? Does he actually think Sweeney is effective despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary? Does Sweeney give Neely a lot of practical power over personnel? Does he just like him?

The biggest problem, of course, is that the Jacobs seem content with the Bruins being…..good (at least to-date), if not great due to years of bad decisions, but wouldn’t Neely want to salvage this thing by cleaning the slate at GM?
They played together on the Bruins for 8 years and I believe are quite close
 

MiracleOfO2704

not AWOL
SoSH Member
Jul 12, 2005
9,528
The Island
They played together on the Bruins for 8 years and I believe are quite close
In addition, they clearly have similar philosophies on how the game should be. The problem is, it’s the same variations of Lunch Pail AC, which just doesn’t work in today’s NHL.

As has been said lots here, the Bruins badly need an outside voice upstairs to push back against their worst ideas. It appears, though, that they tried that once, and are committed to never making that mistake again.
 

RG33

Certain Class of Poster
SoSH Member
Nov 28, 2005
7,199
CA
I know this was basically telegraphed with recent comments by Neely and Sweeney, but I am still stunned by it. I think it is absolutely fucking moronic to fire a guy like this — who has had this much success. All in the name of “philosophy differences” or whatever. So fucking dumb. I’m legit angry about this.

Cassidy will be hired in 10 minutes if he wants to be.
 

Laser Show

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 7, 2008
5,094
In addition, they clearly have similar philosophies on how the game should be. The problem is, it’s the same variations of Lunch Pail AC, which just doesn’t work in today’s NHL.

As has been said lots here, the Bruins badly need an outside voice upstairs to push back against their worst ideas. It appears, though, that they tried that once, and are committed to never making that mistake again.
Yup. Neely said he wanted them to play more dump and chase in his end of year presser.

View: https://twitter.com/bruins_stats/status/1527305068386525184?s=21&t=b9yM9jmeNRQAX2HeOX8P0w
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,243
Yup. Neely said he wanted them to play more dump and chase in his end of year presser.

View: https://twitter.com/bruins_stats/status/1527305068386525184?s=21&t=b9yM9jmeNRQAX2HeOX8P0w
Extend Frobot? Bring back Foligno? Are they still paying Backes? Lucic available?

But seriously....Neely, much like Joe Morgan, seems to forget that he is favoring the kind of player that he was a million times more successful than. Neely was big and strong, but he was no plodder. He was something of a unicorn in his day, and he seemingly doesn't realize that, and is trying to recast the team in what is *not* his image.
 
Last edited: