Boston, MA — The Boston Bruins have officially announced a two-year contract extension for general manager Don Sweeney. This decision grants him the responsibility of rebuilding the team`s roster following their absence from the playoffs this season, the first time since 2016.
This move follows by a month team president Cam Neely`s previous statement indicating he needed time to evaluate Sweeney`s position. Sweeney`s decade as GM saw remarkable regular-season success but often ended in playoff struggles. Last November, Sweeney dismissed coach Jim Montgomery, who had led Boston to league records in wins (65) and points (135) in 2022-23. When the team failed to improve under interim coach Joe Sacco, Sweeney executed a significant roster sell-off at the trade deadline.
Cam Neely expressed his confidence, stating, “Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins. He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention.”
During Sweeney`s 10 seasons at the helm, the Bruins have achieved a regular-season record of 458-233-91, securing playoff berths eight times. Their total of 1,007 points and a .644 point percentage rank among the best in the NHL over this span.
Despite this regular-season consistency, the Bruins have advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs only once under Sweeney, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 with Bruce Cassidy as coach. Cassidy was later fired and proceeded to win the Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in his first season there.
Jim Montgomery took over in Boston, winning 112 games over two seasons but securing just one playoff series victory. He was dismissed 20 games into the current season. With the team out of playoff contention, Sweeney traded away captain Brad Marchand, the last remaining player from the 2011 championship squad. This roster overhaul signaled the close of the franchise`s most dominant era since Bobby Orr`s time at the old Boston Garden.
Neely confirmed that Sweeney has been actively searching for a new head coach while also preparing for the upcoming draft.
“I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what’s to come for our team,” the former Bruins forward commented regarding the former Bruins defenseman. “The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.”
Sweeney, who played 16 NHL seasons (all but one in Boston), assumed the role of general manager for the Original Six franchise in 2015. He received the league`s General Manager of the Year Award in 2019 following the Bruins` appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. This past winter, he also served as GM for Team Canada`s victorious entry in the 4 Nations Face-Off and will be an assistant GM for the national team at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Expressing his commitment, Sweeney stated, “It’s a tremendous honor to be part of a franchise with such a rich history and passionate fanbase. I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. Our fans have high expectations for this team, and so do I. The collective goal is to build a team that makes Bruins fans proud and ultimately brings another Stanley Cup back to Boston.”
