Don Sweeney Named General Manager Of Boston Bruins
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins have their new general manager, and it's a familiar face to Bruins fans.
The Bruins have picked Don Sweeney for the job, the team announced on Wednesday.
"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."
"Don Sweeney stood out amongst an incredibly talented group of candidates that we considered for this hire," Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said in a release. "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," team president Cam Neely said. "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."
Sweeney has been a part of Boston's front office since 2006 when he became the team's Director of Player Development under the man he's now replaced, then-GM Peter Chiarelli. Sweeney was named Boston's Director of Hockey Operations in July, 2007, and was then promoted to assistant GM under Chiarelli in 2010.
Sweeney spent most of his time overseeing the development of the team's drafted prospects at the AHL, junior hockey, college and European levels, and organized and ran the team's first off-season Development Camp in 2007.
In addition to his assistant GM job in Boston, he was also named general manager of Boston's AHL affiliate in Providence, overseeing all hockey operations for the Providence Bruins.
He now becomes the eighth general manager in Boston Bruins history.
Sweeney is no stranger to Bruins fans, who watched him spend 15 years with the spoked-B on the front of his sweater. He was drafted by the Bruins in 1984, and had a successful career at Harvard before making it to the NHL. He debuted during the 1988–89 season and went on to play 1,051 games for Boston, becoming just one of four players in team history to play in over 1,000 games.
Sweeney's first task as general manager will be to decide the fate of head coach Claude Julien. According to The Boston Herald, Sweeney and Julien met at an undisclosed location earlier this month and had a lengthy discussion, so that decision could come very soon.
