Neely On Felger & Mazz: Bruins Pushing Hard To Host Another Winter Classic
Bruins president Cam Neely joined Felger and Massarotti for his weekly appearance on Thursday, just as the Bruins prepared to break a four-day stretch without playing a game.
For that game against the Blackhawks, Neely said captain Zdeno Chara is likely to be a game-time decision after missing the past seven weeks with a knee injury. David Krejci, dealing with a lower-body injury, is less likely to play, based on Neely's feeling.
The conversation eventually was steered toward the Bruins possibly hosting another Winter Classic. Neely wouldn't say where the league stands in terms of its consideration of the Bruins' hope to host a Winter Classic in the near future, but he did say the team really wants one.
"I can tell you that we've expressed strong interest to host another Winter Classic, as a lot of other teams have done," Neely said. "We're pushing as hard as we can to get another Winter Classic, whether that be next year or not, I'm not sure yet. But I know the league knows that I've certainly pushed hard for it. I think it's a great thing for the organization, I love it for our fans, and I love what it can do for youth hockey. So I have yet to hear anything concerte about next year and beyond."
The Bruins hosted the Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year's Day 2010, with the Bruins winning 2-1 in overtime. When asked if the Bruins would like to host at Fenway again or whether they'd prefer heading down I-95 to Gillette Stadium, Neely hinted that the team might be leaning more toward Foxboro.
"That's something that the league would negotiate between those venues," Neely said of the choice of venue. "Fenway was a fantastic setting. I think doing it at Fenway was awesome. If we get it in the near future, I think personally that a change wouldn't be a bad thing, just to have a different experience for the fans and the players who played it in maybe at Fenway. But the setting at Fenway was pretty special."
Neely also discussed the team's philosophy of handing out long-term contracts and no-trade clauses.
"It's an interesting debate because the questions -- are you doing it too soon? Is it too long? So, you really have to know the player," Neely said. "Obviously, the organizations know the players personally better than the fan base knows or the reporters would know, so you certainly take that into consideration. Is this part of the core group, if you will, that we want to see moving forward? And if the answer is yes, then you try and get something done that makes sense for the player and the organization. And sometimes that's where it obviously becomes more difficult. You may want the player long term, but it may not be at the right term or number."
As for the no-trade clauses, Neely said it's been a domino effect throughout the league, where one player gets the no-trade clause and therefore everybody else wants one.
"As a player, I would have loved a no-trade. The seat I sit in now, it does make it challenging," Neely said. "So that's why you have to be careful and understsand the players that you give no-trades to and say this is a character person, we feel comfortable giving a no-trade to, there's various assets this player brings to the organization that we feel comfortable giving a no-trade to. But it does make it more difficult for the GMs, no question."
Neely also discussed the NHL's potential for expansion to Las Vegas, where the Bruins stand among the league's best teams and more. Listen below!
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