[News] Bruins name Don Sweeny GM

[sureLoss]

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=768275

Boston Bruins President Cam Neely announced today, May 20, that the Boston Bruins have named Don Sweeney the General Manager of the Boston Bruins.

Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North's Boston Holdings Charlie Jacobs, Neely and Sweeney will hold a press conference at TD Garden on Wednesday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m.

"Don Sweeney stood out amongst an incredibly talented group of candidates that we considered for this hire," said Jacobs. "He carries a unique and impressive mix of playing experience, front office experience and business acumen. Don has complete understanding of what it means to be a Bruin and we have full confidence in him to steward the organization back to being Stanley Cup contenders year in and year out."

”Don has excelled in every role he has been in with the Bruins organization and has a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of our hockey operations department," said Neely. "His commitment and drive to bring a championship caliber team to the Boston fans was evident every step of the way through this search process, and I am confident that his leadership of our hockey operations department will lead to success."

“I am both excited and humbled for the opportunity to be named the General Manager of the Boston Bruins,” said Sweeney. “I would like to thank the entire Jacobs’ family and specifically Mr. Jacobs and Charlie, as well as, Cam for bestowing the confidence and trust in me to direct this historic franchise in which I have been a part of for 24 years. My family and friends have been extremely supportive throughout the General Manager search process and I certainly want to acknowledge them today to show my heartfelt appreciation. I am fully aware of everyone’s expectations to move the organization forward. 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.”

In his role as General Manager, Sweeney will be in charge of every aspect of the team's hockey operations.

Appointed to his new post, Sweeney becomes the eighth GM in Bruins' franchise history. Sweeney, 48, will enter his 10th season in the Bruins' front office after serving the past six years as Assistant General Manager. He joined the Bruins in 2006 as the team's Director of Player Development and was named to the position of Director of Hockey Operations in July, 2007 before being promoted to Assistant General Manager in September of 2009.

[Erick Estrada]

Sweeny may be a decent GM but the whole Neely/Sweeny thing is getting close to Oilers territory of having the old boys club running the show.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Sweeny may be a decent GM but the whole Neely/Sweeny thing is getting close to Oilers territory of having the old boys club running the show.

Crazy, that was exactly my reaction too.

"I played with him, therefore he is good at whatever job I decide he can do."

Flawless logic.

[dash_pinched]

Dan Ryan @bruinshockeynow Meet the Bruins' new management team!

[TorqueDog]

I know it's tempting to draw parallels to the greasers fire up north, but I think you have to consider that Sweeney has been in the organization as AGM since '09, and has been working in other front office roles since 2006. That's a lot of development time before taking the big job.

Lowe: First year with Oilers, assistant coach. Second year, head coach. Third year, General Manager.
MacTavish: First two years, assistant coach with NYR. Third year, assistant coach with Oilers. Fourth year, head coach. After eight disastrous years (and one good one, courtesy of Chris Pronger) with Oilers as head coach, gets fired. Returns just four years later to become Oilers GM.

Their trajectories are very different, with very different levels of on-ice success.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, McTavish was made GM with no managerial experience - essentially to be Lowe's RHM.

Sweeney has been AGM for years. Big difference.

Also, there is nothing wrong with team loyalty and team culture per se. It's how far you take it, and whether it trumps all else, that matters.

Boston has, and has always had, a strong team identity. Understanding and respecting that is not a bad thing. Now, had they hired an old Bruin with no managerial experience? Okay, then the tire fire comparison would hold.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yeah, McTavish was made GM with no managerial experience - essentially to be Lowe's RHM.

Sweeney has been AGM for years. Big difference.

Also, there is nothing wrong with team loyalty and team culture per se. It's how far you take it, and whether it trumps all else, that matters.

Boston has, and has always had, a strong team identity. Understanding and respecting that is not a bad thing. Now, had they hired an old Bruin with no managerial experience? Okay, then the tire fire comparison would hold.

I don't know. I just think of the fact that they won their lone cup in decades with a non affiliated GM and now are going back to the ex-Bruin well. Maybe it works out and maybe it turns into Mike O'Connell V2.