BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins have signed their general manager to a two-year contract extension, putting their faith in him to lead a rebuild after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The extension follows a period of uncertainty, with team president Cam Neely initially undecided about keeping him after a decade of regular-season success but repeated postseason disappointments. Earlier this season, the GM dismissed head coach Jim Montgomery and later dismantled the roster at the trade deadline after the team failed to respond under interim coach Joe Sacco.
“Despite a tough stretch, he’s led with vision and purpose,” Neely said. “He made difficult but necessary moves at the deadline to get this team back on track toward becoming a contender again.”
Over his 10 seasons in charge, the Bruins have compiled a 458-233-91 regular-season record, tied for the NHL’s best in points and win percentage during that span. However, the team has advanced past the second round of the playoffs just once — in 2019, when they fell short in the Stanley Cup Final under former coach Bruce Cassidy.
Montgomery, who replaced Cassidy and led the Bruins to a record-setting 2022-23 season, was fired just 20 games into this year. Amid the team’s struggles, the GM traded long-time captain Brad Marchand, marking the end of an era that included the team’s last Stanley Cup win in 2011.
Neely confirmed that the GM is now focused on finding a new head coach and preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft. “The expectations in Boston have always been about championships,” Neely said. “I believe in his vision and the direction he’s taking this team.”
