I think what is missing from the criticism here is what had made the Bruins a legit competitor for so long, defense and center depth.

After Bergeron goes you have Coyle. Erik Haula is a Utility player and not a real top 6 center. Sweeney has had 6 years to prepare for Bergeron and Krejci's retirements. Studnicka is a bust and Frederic was a reach.

Defense. While Zboril looks promising a 3rd pair guy, you are still missing 2 of 4. The Lindholm deal was a good move. Again, the drafting here is coming back to haunt him. Gryzelck are Carlo are not championship caliber defenseman. We've watched those in the recent past and we know what that actually looks like. These 2 are mediocre at best, have hit their celling, and are simply not good enough to compete in the east or even in the division.

What Sweeney has done right has swung some good trades and does even better with the contracts. Not all are winners (Rinaldo) but there are a lot moves he's made had they worked (Nash, Kase), things would be looking different.

Ultimately Sweeney should lose his job (he won't but humor me) for his poor drafting. Whether it is this year or next with Bergeron the bad drafting is really started to become an issue. You have goalies, you have 2 of 4 defenders but nothing down the middle. Now go compare with everyone on the east not named Ottawa, Buffalo, & Montreal and see how that stacks up.
- glove_was_stuck

This guy gets it.


Sweeney hasn't been 100% bad, but should lose his job based on the culmination of his work resulting in no championships and the wasting of good years of that top line being so cheap and having good center depth. Now we are on the other side of it and we have arguably the worst group of forward prospects of any team (minus lysell).

Where is the next generation? Who gets to learn from Bergeron, one of the greatest there ever was in the faceoff dot? There is nothing promising there. Now here we are, nothing to show since 2011, core on the wrong side of their prime, two of your top centers who you have rode hard for a decade gone and no one to take their place.

If sweeney doesnt lose his job, now we are in a position for him to make more trade/signing blunders. He CANNOT be put in charge of rebuilding this team.

This guy gets it.


Sweeney hasn't been 100% bad, but should lose his job based on the culmination of his work resulting in no championships and the wasting of good years of that top line being so cheap and having good center depth. Now we are on the other side of it and we have arguably the worst group of forward prospects of any team (minus lysell).

Where is the next generation? Who gets to learn from Bergeron, one of the greatest there ever was in the faceoff dot? There is nothing promising there. Now here we are, nothing to show since 2011, core on the wrong side of their prime, two of your top centers who you have rode hard for a decade gone and no one to take their place.

If sweeney loses his job, now we are in a position for him to make more trade/signing blunders. He CANNOT be put in charge of rebuilding this team.
- dothedougie

That's just it right there. Bergeron had guys like Chara, LaPointe, Guerin & Recchi to learn how to be a pro and be a winner from. He has an effect on guys like Marchand, McAvoy and some others but it's a shame that the team under Sweeney tenure has not been constructed to be a real contender.

2019 was a nice run but take a non black and gold look at it. Really look. Yes they won the games they needed to to get to the final, however it all really broke their way with Tampa getting knocked out by Columbus. 2019 was another glaring example of Sweeney's inability to build a complete team. You lost (read: were grinded down) to an inferior team in everyway except forward depth. It was built on 1 line and Torey Krug's powerplay. Lines 2-4 and PP unit 2 were useless and that ultimately cost them in your own barn.

That's just it right there. Bergeron had guys like Chara, LaPointe, Guerin & Recchi to learn how to be a pro and be a winner from. He has an effect on guys like Marchand, McAvoy and some others but it's a shame that the team under Sweeney tenure has not been constructed to be a real contender.

2019 was a nice run but take a non black and gold look at it. Really look. Yes they won the games they needed to to get to the final, however it all really broke their way with Tampa getting knocked out by Columbus. 2019 was another glaring example of Sweeney's inability to build a complete team. You lost (read: were grinded down) to an inferior team in everyway except forward depth. It was built on 1 line and Torey Krug's powerplay. Lines 2-4 and PP unit 2 were useless and that ultimately cost them in your own barn.
- glove_was_stuck

The vision has to change. Without Bergy this team is still a one line team, but just easier to stop.

I would have preferred two untested goalies than Ullmark for 4 years. yes
- dothedougie

Again, NO GM is making that move...even on a team in the early stages of a rebuild (which we weren't at the beginning of the season).

Again, NO GM is making that move...even on a team in the early stages of a rebuild (which we weren't at the beginning of the season).
- bluemoon737

Then why not swayman/Halak? Cheaper, could have just been for 1 year. If the thought was Tuukka was coming back, you could have traded Halak, or buried him. So what was the thought process? Either way you think about it, Sweeney (frank)ed it up.

Really disagree. Swayman showed enough to be given a chance to start and go through the growing pains. Not much we can do about it now so the point is moot.

It'll be fine. Always is. Just need 3 playoff home games and missions accomplished.
Sweet, sweet playoff revenue trumps all.

It'll be fine. Always is. Just need 3 playoff home games and missions accomplished.
Sweet, sweet playoff revenue trumps all.
- shoreorrpark

Business as usual

Business as usual
- dothedougie

10-4
Save the dough and sign Matthews in a couple of years.

Really? You wanted the Bruins to enter the season with two unproven rookie goalies and the hope Rask "might" make it back sometime during the season? No GM on the planet is taking that gamble. Not a fan of the Ullmark contract, but still.
- bluemoon737

yes, both looked good enough last year. Thats without Rask coming back. I thought Swayman should have started the playoffs last year too.

Then why not swayman/Halak? Cheaper, could have just been for 1 year. If the thought was Tuukka was coming back, you could have traded Halak, or buried him. So what was the thought process? Either way you think about it, Sweeney (frank)ed it up.

Really disagree. Swayman showed enough to be given a chance to start and go through the growing pains. Not much we can do about it now so the point is moot.
- dothedougie

I said I didn't like the Ullmark contract. Sway/Halak would have been fine with that.

Feel your pain Bruins fans, here in Chicago don't know how many years before we can even think of a playoff run.

yes, both looked good enough last year. Thats without Rask coming back. I thought Swayman should have started the playoffs last year too.
- 77emac77

Both looked good enough last year??? Vladar had 5 games played with a 3.4+ GAA and a sub .89 save %. Not sure I would have wanted to rely on those numbers for my "backup" with another rookie as the "starter".

Feel your pain Bruins fans, here in Chicago don't know how many years before we can even think of a playoff run.
- Lauerg

Yeah, hard to think of a team managed worse than Chiapet, but Chicago is right up there. Feel sorry for Kane and Toews.

Both looked good enough last year??? Vladar had 5 games played with a 3.4+ GAA and a sub .89 save %. Not sure I would have wanted to rely on those numbers for my "backup" with another rookie as the "starter".
- bluemoon737

so you were good giving a goalie with zero playoff experience 5 mill a year and a NMC?

You're making my point.

- glove_was_stuck

Yes.

I would have preferred two untested goalies than Ullmark for 4 years. yes
- dothedougie

Agreed. I hated that deal the moment I read it.

Agreed. I hated that deal the moment I read it.

- Nasty_Duck

Im also on the blow it up and create a new team vision with new management train.

Now the best I can hope for is Ullmark having a great season next year and when the season is over we can ask for his 16 team no trade list and sell him as high as possible

so you were good giving a goalie with zero playoff experience 5 mill a year and a NMC?
- 77emac77

Have you read any of my replies? I said the Ullmark contract was a mistake. I just think two rookies was a bigger mistake and the type of move that gets GMs fired which is why none would have done it.

Im also on the blow it up and create a new team vision with new management train.

Now the best I can hope for is Ullmark having a great season next year and when the season is over we can ask for his 16 team no trade list and sell him as high as possible
- dothedougie

With Swayman still under an affordable contract why rush? 2 solid goalies at a great cap hit. Sweeney Mr. Magooed his way into it but, its hardly a problem.

With Swayman still under an affordable contract why rush? 2 solid goalies at a great cap hit. Sweeney Mr. Magooed his way into it but, its hardly a problem.
- glove_was_stuck

We have at minimum one more full season with Ullmark/Swayman. So really there isnt a rush. After next season though, if he has value and a team needs a starter, I was more saying if the selling is high, then sell.

If a trade requires salary retention then probably best to hang on until a deal can be struck that doesnt create a cap mess for several years.

We have at minimum one more full season with Ullmark/Swayman. So really there isnt a rush. After next season though, if he has value and a team needs a starter, I was more saying if the selling is high, then sell.

If a trade requires salary retention then probably best to hang on until a deal can be struck that doesnt create a cap mess for several years.
- dothedougie

I think it's exactly the move barring a legit goalie to create a tandem with Swayman. I like the idea of having a legit Jennings trophy level tandem rather than putting all your hopes on one guy, his warm body backup and an e-bug.

I think it's exactly the move barring a legit goalie to create a tandem with Swayman. I like the idea of having a legit Jennings trophy level tandem rather than putting all your hopes on one guy, his warm body backup and an e-bug.
- glove_was_stuck

Fair point. I would want to avoid a scenario where you have two goalies making over 5m. Granted, that wont be for two more seasons but I suppose you got a point. Perhaps they can wait until Swayman is starting a new contract on bigger money to dump Ullmark. That would effectively be one more season after next.

Unless there is some other stud growing in the system that makes the decision easier.

Fair point. I would want to avoid a scenario where you have two goalies making over 5m. Granted, that wont be for two more seasons but I suppose you got a point. Perhaps they can wait until Swayman is starting a new contract on bigger money to dump Ullmark. That would effectively be one more season after next.

Unless there is some other stud growing in the system that makes the decision easier.
- dothedougie

There is not as we know the system (which was one of Sweeney's "main objectives" 6 years ago) is depleted. But yeah, I'm with you. Can't overpay either.

There is not as we know the system (which was one of Sweeney's "main objectives" 6 years ago) is depleted. But yeah, I'm with you. Can't overpay either.
- glove_was_stuck

If Swayman has another decent season, maybe even grows and gets better, I would be ok with giving him what Ullmark makes. Just dont want to keep both of them at 5+mil. At that point, it makes sense to send Ullmark somewhere.

https://twitter.com/_TyAn...&t=TrgGa1M4FzmjcKSo_vHQ8g


(frank)! This sucks