The Boston Bruins have finalized a two-year contract extension with General Manager Don Sweeney. This agreement entrusts Sweeney with the task of rebuilding the team`s roster after they failed to make the playoffs this season, which marks the first time since 2016.
This decision follows approximately a month after team president Cam Neely mentioned he was evaluating Sweeney`s position. Sweeney has been with the team for a decade, a period characterized by significant regular-season success but generally underwhelming playoff performances. Sweeney had previously dismissed coach Jim Montgomery, who led Boston to NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) in the 2022-23 season, in November. Subsequently, Sweeney proceeded to trade players at the trade deadline when the team did not improve under interim coach Joe Sacco.
Team President Cam Neely commented, “Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins. He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention.”
During Sweeney`s ten-season tenure as GM, the Bruins have achieved a regular-season record of 458 wins, 233 losses, and 91 overtime losses, resulting in eight playoff appearances. Their cumulative 1,007 points and .644 point percentage over this period are tied for the highest in the NHL.
However, the Bruins have only advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs once under Sweeney`s management, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 while coached by Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy was let go three years later and went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in his first season there.
Jim Montgomery took over for Cassidy in Boston, securing 112 wins over two years but only winning a single playoff series. He was fired 20 games into the current season. After the team fell out of playoff contention, Sweeney traded captain Brad Marchand, the final player remaining from the 2011 championship squad, as part of a significant roster purge. This action signaled the end of the franchise`s most successful era since the time Bobby Orr played in the old Boston Garden.
Neely stated that Sweeney is currently searching for a new head coach while also preparing for the upcoming draft.
“I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what’s to come for our team,” the former Bruins forward remarked about the former Bruins defenseman. “The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.”
Sweeney, a veteran of 16 NHL seasons with all but one spent in Boston, assumed control of the Original Six franchise`s front office operations in 2015. He received the league`s General Manager of the Year Award in 2019, the year the team reached the Stanley Cup Final. He also served as GM for Team Canada in their recent 4 Nations Face-Off victory and will act as the country’s assistant GM for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
“It’s an honour to be part of a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fanbase,” commented Sweeney. “I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. Our fans have high expectations for this team, and so do I. The collective goal is to build a team that makes Bruins fans proud and ultimately brings another Stanley Cup back to Boston.”
