Don Sweeney Makes Candid Admission About Bruins Contract

BOSTON — Bruins general manager Don Sweeney will lead the Original Six franchise in this critical offseason with the vision of getting Boston back to the playoffs after an “unacceptable” 2024-25 campaign.

While both CEO Charlie Jacobs and president Cam Neely have expressed confidence in Sweeney’s ability to return the Bruins to contender status, the executive’s future with Boston came up at the end-of-season press conference.

Sweeney confirmed he is entering the final year of his current contract, and talks of an extension with Neely have not yet begun. Regardless of whether Sweeney is still at the helm at the end of the 2025-26 season, he plans to execute the vision he and his staff have for the Bruins.

“It’s not going to have any bearing on the decisions, the same questions that came up at the deadline,” Sweeney said. “It’s irrelevant from the standpoint of the job that I’m going to try to do for the organization. They both know that.”

Despite Neely’s confidence in Sweeney, the former power forward didn’t confirm the intention of extending him.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’m still contemplating what the best course of action is, but as I mentioned, I really feel like Don has done a good job here for the most part,” Neely said. ” … Obviously, the year that we had is a huge disappointment, and that falls on all of us, not just Don, that falls on all of us.

“I’ll figure that out in the near future with that particular question, whether or not we’re going to re-sign Don or not. We’ve got another year left.”

Before this spring, the Bruins had made the playoffs in eight straight seasons, which, in Neely’s opinion, earned Sweeney the opportunity to get the franchise back to the postseason.

“Don has been a great GM in this league,” Neely said. “Has everything gone right? No, but that’s just sports. But there’s been more good than bad. Don and his group, in my opinion, have earned the right to get us back to where we all want to be.”

Jacobs not only echoed Neely’s sentiment regarding Sweeney but also extended his confidence in both executives.

“Cam and Don, in their respective roles as president and general manager, have proven that they can take a franchise that has missed the playoffs and build one for sustained success,” Jacobs said. “It is my opinion that we can do it again and this time get over the hump and become a Stanley Cup champion.”