The Boston Bruins are sticking with general manager Don Sweeney through their next chapter.
The Bruins announced Tuesday they have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep Sweeney at the helm of the franchise through the 2027-28 season.
“Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins,” Bruins president Cam Neely said in a release. “He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention. He is continuing to follow that track with a robust and thorough search for our club’s next head coach, while also preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft and free agent signing period.
“I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months — and excited for what’s to come for our team. The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.”
Sweeney has served as general manager of the Bruins for a decade. He was also the GM for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off this year and will serve as the assistant GM heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
He won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award during the 2018-19 season after the team reached the Stanley Cup Final, losing in Game 7 to the St. Louis Blues.
The Bruins had a tumultuous season and finished tied for last in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia Flyers. Head coach Jim Montgomery was fired 20 games into the year. Montgomery was quickly hired by the St. Louis Blues and helped guide them into the playoffs.
Joe Sacco took over as interim coach but didn’t fare much better. The team is seeking a new head coach, with Sacco under consideration.
Captain Brad Marchand, the last remaining player from the team’s 2011 Stanley Cup title run, was traded to the Florida Panthers at the deadline, signalling a rebuild on the horizon.
“I am very appreciative to (Bruins CEO) Charlie (Jacobs), the entire Jacobs family, and to Cam for their continued trust and support,” Sweeney added in the release. “It’s an honour to be part of a franchise with such a storied 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.”
The Bruins hold the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft.
