The New GM is Don Sweeney

[FL4WL3SS]

Ugh.
 
Why keep the poor guy hanging? There are jobs out there that he could be getting, but obviously loves it here (otherwise, why would he put up with the uncertainty). I really like the idea of giving him another season and if they completely fall apart, there's the option of replacing him in-season. However, I'm supremely confident that if Sweeney gives the guy a good roster, he'll get the most out of it.
 
At this point, I'm not sure why Julien is hanging on. They're keeping him in limbo, the roster might not be able to be fixed for next season (meaning he'll be working with the same B.S. he did this season) and he'll be the fall guy if the season doesn't go well.
 
Give the guy a vote of confidence and move on with it, otherwise let him go find someone else that wants him. I think he's earned that level of respect.

 

[cshea]

Sweeney wants to be more aggressive and thought they had a retreat mentality this past season.

 

[AimingForYoko]

Press conference now...Sweeney says he has talked to Claude and will do so again. He says the coach is in place "at this time."

Very non-committal. Claude's getting booted.

It absolutely sounds like he's 100% done.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I don't agree with you but I think you present one reasonable end of the spectrum of possible outcomes. 
 
Edit: referring to DPU

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

If they're letting Claude twist in the wind I find that a really shitty thing to do after what he's accomplished here. If you really don't think he's your coaching future let him go and thank him for his service. He'll get another gig almost immediately.

 

[cshea]

Sounds like Cam has final say on the roster. He wants daily updates and it sounds like he'll have to sign off on anything.

Amusingly, Cam says the interviews focused mostly on the B's cap situation. Says CapGeek getting taken down made it tough on some candidates since they didn't have the full picture. Good to know our interview process was to have candidates basically solve or problems by playing around with the CapGeek armchair GM tool.

 

[Salem's Lot]

Sounds like Cam has final say on the roster. He wants daily updates and it sounds like he'll have to sign off on anything.

Amusingly, Cam says the interviews focused mostly on the B's cap situation. Says CapGeek getting taken down made it tough on some candidates since they didn't have the full picture. Good to know our interview process was to have candidates basically solve or problems by playing around with the CapGeek armchair GM tool.

 
They should have interviewed PSK. I think he knows the cap situation better then they do.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Ugh.
 
Why keep the poor guy hanging?

There are jobs out there that he could be getting, but obviously loves it here (otherwise, why would he put up with the uncertainty).
 
At this point, I'm not sure why Julien is hanging on.

All three of these questions have basically the same answer.

They are keeping Julien hanging because they owe him a lot of guaranteed money.

Julien is having on because he is getting paid handsomely to do so.

He puts up with the uncertainty because it beats the alternative of quitting and forfeiting his contract as a result.

I assume that if another team wants to talk to him the Bruins will give permission.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

If they're letting Claude twist in the wind I find that a really shitty thing to do after what he's accomplished here. If you really don't think he's your coaching future let him go and thank him for his service. He'll get another gig almost immediately.

Seriously, it feels amateurish. I would have liked to have seen Sweeney make a decision either way right off the bat. For a guy with no GM experience, I'd like to see him come out confident and making decisions.

 

[Monbo Jumbo]

I thought most teams had an on staff 'capologist.'
 
That's like a mayor blaming a problem because SimCity didn't simulate it. 

 

[Scoops Bolling]

I thought most teams had an on staff 'capologist.'
 
That's like a mayor blaming a problem because SimCity didn't simulate it. 

I'm not sure that necessarily means the team doesn't have one, but more that the candidates themselves no longer had easy access to that information (which would make it harder to prepare...I doubt you'd start an interview by handing them a bunch of salary documents and saying "feel free to refer to these before answering").

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Imagining Ray Shero pausing and asking "wait... Chris Kelly makes how much?" makes me chuckle

 

[FelixMantilla]

 
They should have interviewed PSK. I think he knows the cap situation better then they do.

 
And he's a fantasy hockey BEAST!

 

[BigMike]

Sounds like Cam has final say on the roster. He wants daily updates and it sounds like he'll have to sign off on anything.

Amusingly, Cam says the interviews focused mostly on the B's cap situation. Says CapGeek getting taken down made it tough on some candidates since they didn't have the full picture. Good to know our interview process was to have candidates basically solve or problems by playing around with the CapGeek armchair GM tool.

 
And on top of that they didn't even bother to check nhlnumbers,  which I guess isn't quite as good as CapGeek was, but basically has the same info.
 
I'm still of the impression the interviews were largely a farce, and Neely had every intention of hiring Sweeney before he fired Chiarelli. The interviews may have been necessary to get other decision makers on board
 
It is Neely's team now,  so we'll see how it goes.   Obviously there are 2 HUGE decisions that need to be made pretty much before the draft in my opinion  (Krejci and Lucic)

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Sweeney did an interview with Dale and Holley yesterday, and at least to me he came off very well.

He emphasized the importance of player development, including giving guys an opportunity at the NHL level.

He noted that being good on defense is important, but spending too much time defending is a problem.

Said that good players come I all shapes, sizes and styles.

No timetable on the coaching decision. Important decision, shouldn't be rushed, although he did point out that players want to know who the coach will be. He was complimentary of Claude, but wants to be sure that they are both on the same page. Hinted that there may be coaching staff changes.

Signing Dougie is a priority - has spoken with Dougie.

Offered a no comment on the Seguin trade.

 

[TheRealness]

Sweeney did an interview with Dale and Holley yesterday, and at least to me he came off very well.

He emphasized the importance of player development, including giving guys an opportunity at the NHL level.

He noted that being good on defense is important, but spending too much time defending is a problem.

Said that good players come I all shapes, sizes and styles.

No timetable on the coaching decision. Important decision, shouldn't be rushed, although he did point out that players want to know who the coach will be. He was complimentary of Claude, but wants to be sure that they are both on the same page. Hinted that there may be coaching staff changes.

Signing Dougie is a priority - has spoken with Dougie.

Offered a no comment on the Seguin trade.

 
He was on T&R as well yesterday (I think) and I liked his demeanor. Reading between the lines, I think he definitely wants to become more offensive, let the kids play more and make mistakes (i.e. Spooner) and that it seems the disconnect with him and Claude is Claude's preference for vets over talented rookies, and his defense first coaching style. I got the sense he wanted to open it up a bit, and provide more leeway to young players that join the team. 
 
I think they are going to move away from being the Big Bad Bruins, and start gearing more towards what TB and the NYR are doing with eschewing grit and toughness in favor of more talent and skill. 
 
I will be fascinated to see what he does with Lucic. That is his biggest decision to make, IMO. 

 

[BoSoxFink]

 
He was on T&R as well yesterday (I think) and I liked his demeanor. Reading between the lines, I think he definitely wants to become more offensive, let the kids play more and make mistakes (i.e. Spooner) and that it seems the disconnect with him and Claude is Claude's preference for vets over talented rookies, and his defense first coaching style. I got the sense he wanted to open it up a bit, and provide more leeway to young players that join the team. 
 
I think they are going to move away from being the Big Bad Bruins, and start gearing more towards what TB and the NYR are doing with eschewing grit and toughness in favor of more talent and skill. 
 
I will be fascinated to see what he does with Lucic. That is his biggest decision to make, IMO. 

I have been saying this all year. I really hope this is the case