Bruins GM Don Sweeney On Bruins Free Agency Activity

Bruins GM Don Sweeney On Bruins Free Agency Activity

Perfect temperature in here. Get everybody to have a little feeling of what it’s like on free agency day for general managers around the National Hockey League. So, everybody settle in. Um, you know, obviously busy day, busy time period. Kicked off. Uh, I know last time I spoke I I was not necessarily indicative that we were going to get uh, you know, Geeky and and some of the other contracts done, but as I often reference sometimes one two conversations and, you know, the deal finds its own timeline. So, we’re very happy to have that in place along with a few of the other players that we could sort of start to identify how we’re going to fill out our roster and and explore, you know, every opportunity. And I referenced that it would be through trade or um, through free agency. Um, and we did a little bit of both. You know, obviously testing the marketplace in terms of where we were, you know, in Victor’s case, uh, happy to welcome him, his competitiveness, uh, improving the power play. Uh, Marco and Steve Spot consulted, you know, quite a bit when we identified he obviously was available, but, um, Marco had him in, uh, in LA, so it was a it was a plug-and-play and what we felt he was capable of doing and bring to the hockey club. But again, it was an area of goal scoring that we felt that may or may not present during the uh you know, the free agency time frame that we were we were under. Um and then we went to work on finding, as I referenced, you know, last week that we were going to put together a competitive team with the bringing some juice back in here. And uh and that that applies to bringing our, you know, the elevating our current guys and them feeling reinvigorated coming off of of some injuries and a very down year. and uh you know just the responses I’ve had from those guys and realizing how excited some of these guys are to get here and and uh and maybe it is from the from from the bottom up but but the juice is coming and uh and we expect to be a much more competitive team um and the improvements now come from within but make no mistake if if a younger player has the opportunity to make our team he’s making our team I think we did that you know two years ago and Pattra is a good example of of making room there’s room there’s just the competition is there and and that’s what we want That’s what uh you know I talked to Marco about through the whole coaching uh search and um and even leading on the whole days leading up to uh to today. So I’ll take all questions if uh if you care. How much was just being harder to play against an element of some of the players that you brought into free agency and just in general, you know, this offse? I think we’ve always been a team since I’ve been here that that prides oursel in that and that’s defensive structure I talked about. Um we were you know at times last year even when we had our group we were an easy out and I I just I can’t stand for that. Um, so we are going to reestablish that and I said that’s part of of again when you have iconic players and people that are driven that we’ve had the fortune of having and leading our group here for a long period of time. The next group needs to to really really embrace that. We had injuries. There was a factor involved in that. But now we’ve infused that. We have guys that are self starters. We have guys that are going to show up in practice. We have guys that are going to show up when the whistle blows and drag people in with them. And if they aren’t dragged in, then they won’t play. You know, obviously have that that first year where he looked like he was going to be, you know, premier pop forward, but the scoring hasn’t hasn’t followed him. Can he get that back? Do how do you view him as a player? Yeah, I mean, obviously he popped uh, you know, a few years ago. He’s had some injuries um since then that that have, you know, probably derailed a little bit in that regard. Um, you know, I don’t know if he’s getting back to scoring 27 goals. I sure hope so. You know, um, deep down we believe he’ll he’ll bring a lot more energy to our group that we need. The physicality is there. Um, you know, we run through a tough division. I just think everybody gets a little taller. Uh, I think if we fast forward, you know, what we’ve tried to do from a draft perspective, um, an eye towards that as well in introducing those young players, um, that we hope they’re infusing skill. I do believe that the compliment that Tanner brings will help in that regard as we move forward in uh, in improving our organizational depth and talent. How do you guys identify a player like that? Well, he and Alex both um you know, they’ve they’ve done what they needed to do at the American Hockey League level and scoring at a high high level with consistency. There’s there there are a number of players around the league that that have gone through this and and when they got their advantage, they’ve taken, you know, got their opportunity. They’ve taken advantage of it. The conversations we have with both uh Matte and uh and Alex were if you’re going to score at the National Hockey League level, we want you here, not anywhere else. So, we we provided that opportunity today and uh and they’re excited about it. And I said, if they take the job of somebody that that believes they’re an incumbent, that’s what happens in the National Hockey League when a guy, you know, gets passed and the internal competition start that that we discussed organizationally. We needed to get back to having and um and we’re hoping they’re going to take advantage of that opportunity. When it comes to Isammont, what were the things that he brings to the table that you you appreciate? A lot of juice there. uh you know the forch check ability um you know to get down ice. Uh he’s also chipped in his fair amount of goals. Um you know we’re going to have to to probably give a little bit of and put a little bit of trust into into these guys building their their penalty killing um you know at a little more of a consistent level. And that will be an area that we’re going to tease out of out of Mikey and uh and probably Tanner who has done in the past as well so we can spread that around. um you know, you just you know, obviously we lost, you know, some key guys in that regard and you can’t just roll over Lindy and and Pav and um you know, the same guys, especially when they’re playing elevated roles as well. So, we’re going to spread that around. But the juice, the competitiveness, you know, everybody you’ve talked to in terms of how Mikey shows up to practice every day. Um, he’s a pain in the ass, you know, and and I want to be a pain in the ass, you know, for us to to reach the level of offense that you need to be as competitive as you want to be. Are there guys that have to hit levels they’ve never hit before or not hit recently? Are you are you counting on some guys have career years offensively to to kind of get that to get that offense to where you want to? Well, what’s interesting last year we fell wofully short but we were tracking to be short um you know partway through the year when we made that transition. We never ever forecasted that somebody was having a career year and I I think that’s fool’s gold. Obviously if if they do good on them in Kiki’s case he got paid so we’re not rooting against them either in that regard. the the the group itself if the power play comes back online and they’re feeling better about themselves in that regard I think there’ll be enough around but you know that’s the area that that if you look at the group that we’re saying okay we got to tease it out and we have to you know now we you have to be healthy as as well but if you look at LA you look at Minnesota you look at the teams that you know didn’t lead the league in scoring they still generated enough they found a way to score enough and you know they’re in the playoffs So, the end of the day, I told you all along, we need to be a more competitive team and and offensively, we have to find a way to, you know, Steve Spot will be a big part of that, you know, and improving our power play. And uh um if we have to find a little bit more during the course of the season, we have some space to do that. We have some draft capital to do that. And if we’re in position, I I think you guys know that I’ve I’ve generally had a pretty aggressive mindset and and we’ll try and complement that. How would you just characterize this year’s particular market um talent-wise or you talking the contractwise? What? Can you expand on that question just a little bit, Phil? It seems narrow compared to perhaps years of of past when we saw so many guys be up before. I Well, I I I think you saw it as well. Well, I mean, Florida took three three uh primary players, you know, by bringing them back off of the free agent market. You you don’t know, you know, if if somebody was thinking of an offer sheet on Geeky, you know, that disappeared. So, end of the day, you get to July one and and you know, you see who’s who’s there to be able to to uh bring in attract like it all has to happen. you you you’re hopefully sort of, you know, doing your due diligence around the league and knowing who’s available. Um, you know, trade scenarios, being on one, all of a sudden he’s traded because everybody else is seeing the same thing. That happens. That’s happened over the last couple days to to some of us. And, um, you know, that’s where we, you know, took the opportunity to bring on Victor and and we’re happy for that. The teams fear the offer sheet more this year than in past years with yourself signing you know before July one Toronto signing Nice uh New York sign today. Uh I mean I think everybody has to be a little more cognizant of it as I said I think last week as well that the the flexibility the the cap going up I think it took away a little bit but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. So, you know, the RFAS, you got to have both sides cooperate because sometimes they may delay it and take it past it and and you never know. You just don’t. Um, but I think everybody was a little more aggressive in trying to get their RFAS done. Um, you know, just to avoid it and know what you had, you know, to spend elsewhere. What’s the hope, I guess, from a production standpoint for a guy like Geeky after signing for that contract? Well, I I I mean, we hope he goes back to 33 ultimately. Um, you know, if he’s still playing with pasta, uh, you know, depends on where he is on the power play. So, there are things that may affect that. Shooting percentage was was certainly at his highest level. Um, so does that regress a little bit? It it may. He’s now averaged 25 goals over the last two years, so he was not um it wasn’t barren last year either, you know, in his first year here. So, he shoots the puck. He’s got a lot more confidence now. He can play with a, you know, he proved now he can play and complement, you know, a star player in the national hockey. All those things sort of feed into hopefully now he scores with consistency and, you know, I I hope he’s remains a 30 goal scorer ultimately. That’s what we we want and we need. What was the process like bringing Carelli back in? What was your conversation like today? Uh Sean was was really excited today. Um, you know, to to be coming back. Uh, he knows what we’re trying to do. Um he’s been here and grown up uh as a player in the National Hockey League, cutting his teeth under leadership. He’s now in that leadership category. He’s, you know, he knows a lot of these guys. Uh it’s plug and play for him to infuse again the energy piece of it. There’s a penalty killing. There’s a a stability aspect to Shawn. He can play a little bit up and down. Um both, you know, left wing and center. He’s good on draws. Uh he’s also a guy that takes a lot of pride, you know, and professionalism on and off the ice. the, you know, we had great knowledge of him and, you know, when it aligns the fact that he was excited about returning, I think it it it aligns pretty well for us. What you know of Victor’s game from having seen him and what Marco was suggesting, having worked with him, how best does he fit into the power play? Net front, he’s he’s got some grease there. Uh, knows timing is also part of the net front. you know, most of the guys that are effective there, they get their their their stick on a lot of pucks. Uh it’s not by coincidence they’re in the right spots where the rebound is there. He has a good feel for that. He’s got courage as well. You know, he’s not the biggest guy, but he’s played the same way his whole career and he’s produced. Um he recovers pucks well as you know, um you know, and that’s also a part of of of that net front ability, you know. Um, so you know, we know and even talking to uh in talking to spotter about how he’s going to, you know, make some tweaks, you know, when the puck gets to certain spot, he, you know, the guys all know it’s going to the net and and that’s what we have to have a little more. I talked about before having a little more consistency and executing our plans and, you know, Victor’s been a part of that. He’s played Yosi situation. He knows when a puck’s gone up top and situations it’s going to the net, you know. So, I think we’ll have a little more. We’re trying we’re going to try to build continuity into that and have a plan in place and and hopefully he takes advantage of that opportunity. Your analysis of of the power plays dysfunction last year. Was it mostly net front? Was it failure to shoot? Was it not getting rhythm, not finding passing as the whole basket? It was um it started with entries. Uh to tell you the truth, we were not as consistent as you need to be, you know, and uh and even that is if it’s if it requires a a chip or a dump like your your group has to be on the same page in that regard. You can’t just hope that guys going to make a high high-end play on every entry situation, but you have to be connected. I think that’s one of the biggest things that we’re going to try and refocus on. And the same thing when the puck is, you know, teams are killing in a certain way and if they’re taking away pasta, you know, you know, you have to execute the other side. But when that puck comes up top, it it’s supposed to go, you know, to the net because that’s what they’re giving you. And again, getting connected and and spending some time now with Spot and and and him talking about the players he’s worked in Dallas and why it worked and now being excited about, you know, taking Charlie and uh and Mason, you know, and sort of and Hampus even. Those are the things that you realize like, you know, we we weren’t executing at the level you need to, you know, to be successful and and we needed a better job. We have to take ownership of that. Our players have to take ownership of it. And you know, the funny part about it was they were top 15 power play the year before. Four out of the five guys. Um, but other teams made adjustments and they didn’t they didn’t do a good enough job. They’re they’re more than capable. We just have to do a better job being connected and executing what we’re supposed to. As you conceptualize what this might look like on the ice come October, say the puck is in the offensive zone, you’re on the forefront. based on what you were able to bring in today. How do you want guys to to follow this game? Yeah. I mean, that’s Marcos, you know, and he’ll be the first to say like, listen, he now has a bit of a blueprint of the players that he gets to to get a hold of and how they’re going to play. So, those guys already sat today in terms of, okay, if this is how they’re mapping out the lines are going to go, you know, what are we capable of doing? No, he still has his own structure and systems that everybody’s going to play. It’s the one thing, you know, and even Marco’s introduction to the uh uh to the development kids and understanding if you’re playing the right way, you’re going to play. You’re going to get an opportunity to play for Marco Stern. Very direct, succinct in how he’s going to approach things. That’s going to be across the board. And I that again is being connected, executing to the point where you you are supposed to put pucks in in certain times and areas. He’s going to reinforce those things. So, if you’re supposed to play behind, you’re going to play behind and you’re going to forche the hell out of it. and puck recovery side of things. Um, we’re just going to try to in, you know, and everybody will be across the board. Now, some guys can execute a much higher level. They’ll get a little more rope. That’s happened in every team. You know, the best players generally get that. The other guys got to buy in and realize that they’re going to contribute, but it has it has to come from our whole group. The offense has to come that way. Bring back Yogi, how are you on the right side on the right side? Is the expectation that one of them was going to be able to run with a top four role. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, fortunately Charlie would be healthy. You know, knock on wood, he stays that way. I think that that starts to slot guys in in terms of what they’re able to do. And whatever the matchups are, particular night, Henry’s already proven he can play with a couple different partners. Um, so Liy and and Marco will figure out who’s who’s best suited to uh to complement each other. Talked about Arkansas and bringing him in a lot of the focus from the power play. Do you feel like you have enough in the tank right now? Five on five talent wise or enough goals to get back to that level like you’re talking about just beyond uh the power play success? I I think that’s the area that we’re going to have to make sure we’re, you know, we’re executing at, you know, in the style Marco wants to play. Um, you know, if there’s a deficiency of Eddie club starting the year, you’d point to that and say, “Hey, this group’s going to have to work hard to score the goals.” Um, and and you know, put it together. They’re all capable. Harvey’s capable of scoring 20 goals. Geeks now’s capable of scoring 30. That doesn’t mean I’m anointing the high sides of their careers. But I do believe when you put the the the whole group together and what they’re capable of doing, we’ll score enough if we play the right way and we’ll defend a hell of a lot better. And I expect our goalending to be significantly better. In April, you were confident the injured guys would be all healthy come. Yeah. Still confident? Yeah, very confident minus the obvious of having a, you know, an injury between now and then. Yeah. With Tanner, with Tanner, you mentioned the physicality. Um, just what gives you the confidence to give him the term, you know, the five-year term given his running play style. Again, I think I mapped out the fact that we want the the infusion rate now and and playing forward, I think it’s hard to find. I really do. And I think that that the the younger skilled players that we plan to incorporate moving forward are going to need a little breathing room. And I think Tanner’s going to bring a lot of that. Um I think the room itself, his leadership skills, how he prepares to, you know, to play the game. I think that all just boils over into what we need to to continue to improve upon and also support. as I’ve referenced before, you know, you got David and and and Charlie in particular that are stepping into leadership situations. They’ve been, you know, assistant captains and such, but there’s a lot that goes into, you know, being at that upper echelon level of leadership and what’s required of you. Um, along with being an elite player in the National Hockey League, you know, Zado Bergie, obviously Marsh, like those guys did it and they learned from it, but now they’re going through it the first time. I think bringing in more players that are are capable of providing outlets and and relief in that sense, you know, plays a big part of what team success is all about. What are you hoping for from Jordan Harris? Uh, good skating, puck moving, plays both sides. Um, you know, you look at what what the group needs from depth and and how we’re going to get pushed when guys aren’t necessarily playing where injuries come. Uh, you know, Mike Callahan, uh, a little different flavor, probably a little more of the PK and and, uh, and stiffness side of things. Got his, you know, feet wet last year. Sodestrom puck moving, has a little power play acumen. So, you look at the blend of guys that are going to compete for that spot and that depth and provide, uh, you know, everybody knows you need insulation as, you know, defenseman, you know, as a group overall throughout the year. So, I think Jordan will push um uh you know for playing time and uh and happy to bring him on board. So much of how every team in the league goes is is is based on how their five or six core players play. You’ve got your five or six core players. How do you hope those five or six core players today interpret the hand handful of moves you made that we’ve tried to support them with infusing the energy and and and hopefully physicality and uh the ready to go mentality. I I referenced before to be a harder route to be in the fight to drag people in. I think they know now that we’ve tried to support them, you know, when they’re trying to lead the charge. you know, you guys have been around to watch Charlie every once in a while, you know, the wires cross and and he’s going to try and line somebody up and um and David fighting, you know, um Tchuk like these guys are all in. But you need you need you need foot soldiers to go along with them to to support the the endeavors that they have both, you know, at the highest competitive level, but also executing at that level. I think we’ve done a a job today. Do we have a surprise or two with a younger player that or you know a blue melon or a ste that can provide some some secondary scoring for us? That’s that’s the uh that’s what needs to play out. Did spot was his kind of experience with Bl important as far as helping you know that or convincing you guys that that he’s a guy that that his offensive skills will translate from? Well, he has he had knowledge that, you know, from inside the locker rooms and and and communication in in Dallas’s system, he didn’t have a a great opportunity. Dallas was a really deep team and uh you know, he had a few games. Um did he play in in an elevated role that he plays in in uh in Texas? No. So, you know, we’re we’re going to take a peek at that, you know, because that’s what, you know, in Spot’s case, he’s not rubber stamping a player that’s going to come up here and score at the same level. But what he’s saying is if you put him in situations, you know, where he’s on an elbow in the power play, and that’s where he scores from there. You have to see that. You have to put some of those players in those situations so that they’re you’re able to see whether or not they actually hit the next level as well. Otherwise, you’re just not going to know. You mentioned the confidence of the goalending bouncing back. Obviously, a lot of focus there is on Jeremy, but but behind him Jonas and and Dro resigned. How do you look at that situation and and how that may play out in camp? Again, Yonas was honest at the end of the year and saying that he believed we should have utilized him more and you know, especially maybe when Jeremy was struggling and I was honest. I didn’t I didn’t disagree with him, you know, and we’ve gone over that as a staff to recognize that, you know, when a player’s playing well enough, he maybe deserves the net and, you know, regardless of who it is. In Michael’s case, he had a tremendous year. He was a go a goalie of the year. We felt that, you know, him still being young enough, there’s there’s growth potential in Michael as well. Michael comes and pushes, you know, maybe it makes a decision even harder for for all of us in terms of but that’s what we’re trying to make sure we’re driving. You know, it’s it should be uncomfortable. You know, we miss by a wide margin. We need to be better. So, every guy walking through the door recognizing today we were trying to accomplish that that’s what they should be focused on for the rest of the summer and and coming in in September. Do you feel like that goalie room is perhaps more in unison than it was at the end of the year when being honest about, you know, wanting to play more? Do you feel like it’s a everyone kind of knows the expectations or the situation maybe a bit better now moving into next year? Uh, I mean, Jeremy missed camp so he didn’t really start out with, you know, with with Corp in that regard. Um, I I like the fact that Corpy flat out said like, I got I deserve to play more. No, his play has to to back that up as well. So, they’re supportive, they’re competitive, and they’re and they’re supportive in the same regard. So, you know, hopefully they’ve they’ve learned and they’ve they’ve moving forward, but they want them to stay competitive and stay connected in that regard. And I want Michael to realize like if if he’s good enough to play, he should play. Anyone else? Thanks, John. All right. Happy fourth, everybody. Have a good uh good rest of your week. All right. Thank you very much.

As NHL Free Agency kicks off, Bruins GM Don Sweeney addresses the media to explain Boston’s offseason moves and plans ahead of the regular season.