BOSTON – For the first time during the Jacobs family 50-year ownership of the Bruins, the organization reached a significant crossroad this season and drastic measures were needed to secure a better future.
After several in-depth conversations, ownership and management made the collective decision to begin the organizational overhaul. The current roster was torn up as the next chapter begins. Captain Brad Marchand, along with Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau were all traded before Friday’s NHL deadline. On Saturday, Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs announced his “full support” for president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney.
“Cam, Don and the hockey operations team have my full support as they make these very difficult decisions, which we collectively believe will set our franchise up for a new era of success in the future,” Jacobs said. “Our goal remains unchanged – to be a Stanley Cup Championship-driven organization. Together, we are charting a course for the next century.”
This Original Six franchise has dealt with its share of adversity, especially since Jacobs purchased the team in 1975, but it became unchartered waters for the Bruins this season. The team fired coach Jim Montgomery in November, several key players were injured, younger players in the organization failed to make the most of their opportunities, and ultimately, the mass exodus occurred Friday.
The landscape has completely changed for the Bruins, and it starts with ownership. While it was difficult, Jacobs understood Sweeney needed to rebuild. Sure, there have been other significant roster changes in the last 50 years. It hurt when Bobby Orr signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 1976. Fans suffered through something similar when captain Ray Bourque asked to be traded to a Stanley Cup contender in 2000 and a season later accomplished his goal of winning with the Colorado Avalanche.
The Bruins then dropped a bombshell when they unexpectedly traded captain Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 30, 2005. There was a mutiny by the players and fans after Jumbo was dealt.
Everyone tries to forget one of the worst seasons in Bruins history under coach Dave Lewis in 2006-07. But then the organization began to heal itself. Zdeno Chara would only sign with the Bruins as a free agent (2006) if he was promised the captaincy, which he was and the culture began to shift. Claude Julien was named coach and young, homegrown talent started to emerge with the likes of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Phil Kessel and Brad Marchand.
Then-general manager Peter Chiarelli made significant acquisitions, and the Bruins became a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Boston won in 2011, and returned to the Cup final again in 2013 (lost to Chicago) and 2019 (lost to St. Louis). During that stretch, the Bruins failed to make the playoffs only twice in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Chiarelli was fired after the ’15 season and Sweeney was promoted to GM.
After 5 ½ seasons of success with Bruce Cassidy behind the bench, he was relieved of his duties following the 2021-22 season. He quickly landed a job with the Vegas Golden Knights and won the Stanley Cup in his first season. That’s when the foundation began to crack for the Bruins. Yes, Montgomery guided the Bruins through an historic regular season in 2022-23, but they were ousted in the first round by the Florida Panthers.
Bergeron and Krejci both retired after that season. The Panthers beat the Bruins in the second round last season, and this year the Bruins will likely miss the playoffs for only the third time in 18 seasons.
The Bruins have faced many challenges under Jacobs’ ownership, but nothing like they dealt with this season. In fact, one longtime Bruins player said this was one of the worst stretches he has been part of during his career and it was difficult to handle. It didn’t take long for the Bruins success culture to crumble. Now, it’s time to build it back up and ownership accepts -- for now -- the concept to retool.
Fans won’t be so patient.
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