Bruins Announce Contract Extension For GM Don Sweeney

Whether you call it a rebuild, a retool or reloading, Don Sweeney will be the one leading the charge for the Bruins.

The Boston general manager signed a two-year contract extension, the team announced in a press release. The new deal keeps Sweeney in Boston through the 2027-28 season.

Sweeney himself revealed he was entering the final year of his contract. Instead of letting him navigate a pivotal offseason under a lame-duck status, Bruins ownership and president Cam Neely felt it was important to lock in Sweeney.

“Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins,” Neely said in a statement. “He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention.”

It can’t be overstated how significant this offseason is for the Bruins. The Black and Gold is coming off its first missed playoffs in nearly a decade. They need a new head coach after firing Jim Montgomery early in the 2024-25 season. The missed postseason means a high draft pick, too, and the Bruins will select No. 7 overall in next month’s draft — their highest selection since 2010.

That all then leads into free agency in July when the Bruins will have ample cap space after some financial restrictions in past summers.

“I am confident in the plan (Sweeney) has followed these past few months — and excited for what’s to come for our team,” Neely added. “The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.”

Sweeney has been Bruins general manager since May 2015. The B’s went to the Stanley Cup Final just a few years into his run (2019), and they set an NHL regular-season record for points in 2023. Sweeney has been at the helm for a handful of significant contract extensions, including recent deals for stars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman.

That trio will be the foundation around which Sweeney presumably builds what he hopes will be the next great Bruins team as he and the organization look to restore glory and break through to win their first Cup under his watch.

“I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role,” Sweeney, the 2019 GM of the Year, said in a statement with the team release. “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.”

With Sweeney’s situation sorted out, it wouldn’t be surprising if a coaching resolution quickly follows this announcement. Meanwhile, the draft prep also continues ahead of the scouting combine in early June, with the draft set to begin June 27 in Los Angeles.