Massive changes may be coming to the Boston Bruins: Don Sweeney needs to focus on this

Watching Saturday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, you could see it plainly. They won in a shootout 3-2, but the pace felt sluggish, especially during the beginning of the game

The Bruins' winger Morgan Geekie scored twice in regulation, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman stood on his head all game and ended up stopping all three shootout attempts to steal the win.

But the win revealed an issue: Boston often looked slow through the neutral zone and struggled to generate chances.

That lack of speed can't be ignored. The entire league is trending toward quick transition, hard forechecks, and fast breakouts. The Bruins repeatedly looked like they were a step behind, especially in defense and in support rushes.

If they want to compete, that needs to change.

Now the pressure is on general manager Don Sweeney more than ever. After last season's disappointing finish and a clear shift toward youth, Sweeney already acknowledged the team is on a new path.

He must prioritize adding speed, whether via trades, free agency, or promoting younger, faster players, rather than just filling static roster spots.

The old-school toughness and experience still have value in Boston. But speed, agility, and transition play define today's NHL.

It will be interesting to see whether or not Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney ends up trying to make the team faster or sticks with the roster he currently has.