General Manager Don Sweeney sends multiple Bruins prospects a warning before the season begins
Photo credit: The Boston Globe
Training camp is right around the corner now, and Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has sent a warning to multiple prospects.
On the Bruins current roster, only David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy have played 4 or more seasons with the Boston Bruins following the moves they made during the NHL trade deadline.
At the beginning of free agency, the Bruins signed nine players to new deals, mainly just depth signings.
Entering the new season, the Bruins have a bunch of different options, but also have a lot of question marks on who will fill out the opening night roster.
Sweeney revealed that he planned to do it like this, as he wanted to challenge players to make the NHL roster.
«That was by design all summer long.» Sweeney said Tuesday at the Boston Bruins Foundation Golf Outing, «We made a massive change in direction last year at the Deadline, and now we need to course correct. We need to take steps forward and get back to the level, as Marco talked about, the level and standard that we all expect here.»
Entering the new year, there are only a handful of players who's jobs are secure, but it will be a free for all for the rest of the team.
Boston is hopeful that Minten, Poitras, and Lysell will make a strong push for the opening night roster.
Sweeney expects Bruins prospects to compete for a roster spot
According to Sweeney, there is a chance that prospects make the opening night roster, but they are all going to have to earn it.
«The younger players, we're going to look for them to surprise us with taking lineup spots,» Sweeney said, «but what we've done is insulate our group of guys with a competitive group from the bottom up and allow some of this younger skill, hopefully from within, now and moving forward, is going to emerge. But we're going to be a much more competitive team and held to the standard that Marco was talking about the other day.»
Sweeney sent Bruins prospects a message before training camp:
«Guys can go out and take advantage of opportunities You've got to take somebody's job in this league.» Sweeney said, «It's just too hard not to think that you're just going to walk in and somebody's just going to give you an open chair. It just doesn't happen. So you've got to go out and earn it and take it and then just keep it and hold on to it for as long as you can and thrive. So they should be very excited about where camp is and the opportunities that sit in front of them.»
The hope is that the Bruins will stay healthy this year, and Sweeney believes if they do, the Bruins will be back to a competitive team.
«Well, if we stay healthy, I think we're going to be really competitive.» Sweeney said, «Ultimately, a standard's got to be risen in terms of how competitive we're going to be and the structure that he wants to play with.»
Last season was a huge disappointment for the Boston Bruins, especially following the NHL trade deadline.
«We were flat last year after we made the trades,» Sweeney said, «and rightfully so with some of the players that had departed and what they had meant for the organization.»
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 142 ANSWERS General Manager Don Sweeney sends multiple Bruins prospects a warning before the season begins Do you think multiple Bruins prospects will be competing for a roster spot? | ||
| Yes | 128 | 90.1 % |
| No | 14 | 9.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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