BRUINS OFFSEASON QUOTES END-OF-YEAR PRESS CONFERENCE Tuesday, May 2, 2017

BOSTON BRUINS OWNER , CEO CHARLIE JACOBS, AND PRESIDENT CAM NEELY END-OF-YEAR PRESS CONFERENCE On how Mr. Jacobs would characterize the season… JJ: I think we had a successful season because of what evolved, the changing of the guard in our coaching ranks, and I think our leadership showed itself very well. I think hope springs eternal and we set off hoping and looking forward to extending the season. As it did evolve, I think the correction was good and I think we did a tremendous job once we had Butch [Bruce Cassidy] in place, so I’m happy with where we are and I’m happy with the next generation of players coming into this organization.

On how much outside help Cam Neely thinks the team needs… CN: Well, we’re going to look at that, there’s no question. We do have some players coming. We’re excited about them and whether or not they can push for jobs remains to be seen. But, we’re certainly going to look and see what transpires in the offseason and see if we can plug a couple of those holes.

On Mr. Jacobs adding context to being happy where they are and if he would make changes in other businesses if they were performing to this extent… JJ: I think this is – well, this is different. It’s a sports franchise and it’s evolving. We went a particular direction and we had a seat change in direction, so I think there’s been substantive change. Change for the sake of changing, as you know, is not an intelligent move. I think this is a practical and intelligent approach to dealing with the franchise’s emergence today.

On the arc of the Hub on Causeway construction and what it will mean for the arena next season… CJ: The Hub on Causeway continues to be a work in progress. We are, I want to say, roughly 100 percent done with the digging, and as you know, as you continue to go further down, the longer it takes to get out. There are small, small elements that are beginning to emerge from the hole in the ground, for a lack of better term, and I would believe that it’s going to continue to be a bit of an inconvenience for event goers here at the TD Garden into next year. I hope by the time the 18-19 season begins, I believe we’ll have a new core and shell and a new entrance to North Station.

If I may just add a little bit to your questions towards about change; underperformance and change – we have made significant changes in the past 24 months when you consider that we have a new coach, we have a new general manager, and a significantly different profile in terms of who we have in prospects than we did say 24 months ago.

On what input Neely had on the hiring of Head Coach Bruce Cassidy and what impressed him… CN: Well, Don [Sweeney] certainly talked to me about the thought of removing Claude [Julien] and putting Bruce in as an interim. What Bruce did and what the players did when he took over was pretty impressive. So, there was a different feeling around the locker room, he practiced differently, and it showed up in the way we played. So, Don has had a relationship with Bruce down in Providence for a number of years and he knew him very well. He felt comfortable removing the interim tag and I didn’t see the – there’s no reason why we wouldn’t hire Bruce based on what he did at the end of the year and how the players responded.

On Mr. Jacobs’ feelings when Claude Julien was fired and his impressions on Bruce Cassidy…

JJ: The decision was very much made here in Boston, the leadership here. My own impression is that it was overdue – maybe a little late. Maybe I precipitated part of that and misplaced loyalty in that sense. But, it was the right move. Coaches have a definite life it seems to be. He had been a long serving coach. He spent a good bit of his career with us, and hopefully he does well in Montreal. But, once Bruce took over, I think he either had the first or second best record of any team in the for that period of time. I don’t know the exact number, but I think it was 24 games or something like that. So, it was a very prudent move and it was very prudent there. Under those circumstances, I would say that Don did a terrific job in selecting him and motivating him and motivating the team.

On what Neely’s vision is for next year’s team in terms of identity and upgrades… CN: Well, you see the way that the game’s going. There’s a lot of speed in the games. We added some of that when we saw some players that brought some speed and we played a faster game actually. We practiced faster and played faster. I think there are opportunities for guys that are in our system to maybe push and have some speed. I still like to play hard and go to the net, and those are areas where it’s difficult to score in this league and you’ve got to get there to score those goals. Whether we have someone on the left side on the back end that can push for a job or we go out and find that player. But, I think our right side on the back end is pretty well covered. Maybe a little bit of help on the left side on the wing that can maybe contribute offensively. So, we’re hoping we maybe had a couple players in our system that are maybe able to push and show that they’re ready to play in the NHL and contribute.

On what Neely thought of David Backes’s game… CN: Well, David had a hard time adjusting. He mentioned that at the end of the year that it was more of a challenge to come to a new city and a new team and get to know 22 to 24 other players. That took a while for him to get adjusted. I feel like David is really built for the type of playoff hockey you have to have and play to go deep. I feel he’s a great leader. He’s helped the young kids a ton. If he can pick up a little bit of a step in his game, which he’s going to work on in the offseason, I think that’s going to be beneficial for him and us. But, I like his physicality. I like the fact that he’ll stand front of the net and pay the price to be there. I think offensive wise, we got kind of what we expected from him. Would we like a little more? Yeah. But, all the things that he brings, I thought that whole package was a welcome addition.

On if this team relates to the 2008 team that lost against Montreal and if this loss serves as a springboard like that loss… CN: Well, it remains to be seen but I think it’s beneficial. I think for players who haven’t played in the playoffs before, you really get an understanding of what playoff hockey is all about. It’s what you want for your team and that helps the growth of those players; especially younger players. I think there are guys like David Pastrnak that really saw a difference in regular season hockey and playoff hockey, and he’s going to learn and grow from that. But, the atmosphere is so much different. It’s so much better. It’s a lot more fun. I think our players – obviously, the players that have been there and experienced it know it. But, the ones that experienced it for the first time, it’s a great taste to be in playoff hockey now. We’re not satisfied with losing out in the first round and winning two games, but it was a series we felt could have went either way. Everybody talks about well, injuries shouldn’t be an excuse. But, the reality of it is missing a Torey Krug to help transition the puck from the D- zone up to the neutral zone was a void. Him on the power play was a void. Obviously, [Brandon] Carlo and [Adam] McQuaid on the penalty kill hurt us, especially with some of the penalties that we were taking.

On if there is any hope for players to go to the Olympics… JJ: I don’t think it’s going to happen, no. When you stop and think about should we take those weeks out of our season, turn it off; continue to depend on these players to perform for us when they get back, if they get back, and if they come back in good condition. I said it earlier, I’ll say it again – do what they did with basketball. Play it in the summer. They could do summer Olympics just as easily. They won’t embrace it. So, it is what it is. Also, Korea doesn’t necessarily help the situation at all for the Olympics. The time zones are so different. If you want to watch it here at two or three in the morning, okay. But, I think the four people that watch it don’t justify the reasons for it.

On what the organization is doing to make sure they don’t run into a situation like Jimmy Vesey’s with Anders Bjork… CN: That’s a good question. Well, we’re doing everything we possibly can. He had a very difficult decision right after his season was over. I think it was overwhelming for him. He’s at the World Championships now. His camp has told Don that he’s going to make a decision whether or not to return to college hockey or turn pro after the World Championships at some point. So, our hopes are that he sees where we’re at as a team and some of the young players we’re putting in our lineup and we hope that he understands that he’s a player that we think very highly of that can step in and contribute here.

On if Bjork has expressed any desire to play in the 2018 Olympics… CN: I believe that he would like the opportunity like most players would. All of the players say that they would like the opportunity.

On if that’s the main factor Bjork hasn’t signed… CN: I’m not sure that’s the main factor or not.

On their assessment of Don Sweeney’s job so far as General Manager… CN: Well, anytime you’re a first time GM, there’s growing pains and learning experiences that you go through. I don’t care what job you’re taking on in any professional sports. I mean, it’s a difficult decision to be in. I think Don – I know how hard he works. His work ethic is second to none and he thinks not just short term about the team but also long term when he sat down with us and kind of laid out what he thought was a vision of how to get our team back to where we want to be and in a sustainable period of time. Having said that, he also said there would be some bumps along the way, especially early, and there has been. Would everybody like to look back and make different decisions? Yeah, we all would. Don’s no different. But, the overall package for me, with Don, is I think he’s done a really good job of directing certain people in the organization to what we’re looking for. Where the team is right now and where it looks to be going, I think the future is bright.

On what it means to him to have been the owner of the Bruins the same number of years that Tom Yawkey was the owner of the Red Sox, and if that resonates with him, having been the owner for that long, and how that pertains to succession… CJ: This is a wonderful property that my whole family has enjoyed and it should be preserved for the next generation and hopefully that’s the way it goes. Obviously it’s out of my hands at some point, but I think the next couple of years is predictable for me. Beyond that, I don’t know.

On if he compares his length in ownership to Tom Yawkey… JJ: No … Yawkey had a great legacy here. He was very much loved. And this generation came in and present ownership moved it that much further, and their succession has been history now.

They’ve been very successful. Is it off of his building block? Probably, at some point, it played a role and people here really loved that game.

On if there is any more clarity on players possibly going into surgery, including Patrice Bergeron… CN: Nothing as of this morning, but they wanted to give it a week or so. And then they’re going to revisit with the doctors and come to a conclusion one way or the other. That should happen in the next few days.

On the NHL Expansion Draft and what his concerns are overall with the draft… CN: Well, there’s always the fear you’re going to lose a player you don’t really want to lose. There’s going to be a lot of conversations I know that Don is going to have with, whether it’s other GMs or George McPhee, for that matter, on seeing what his appetite is and what his interest is, but there’s always a fear that you’re going to lose a player that you may want to hang on to.

#05/02/17#