BRUINS QUOTES MEDIA DAY PRESS CONFERENCE Tuesday, October 1, 2019

BOSTON BRUINS CHAIRMAN , CEO CHARLIE JACOBS, PRESIDENT CAM NEELY, GENERAL MANAGER DON SWEENEY AND HEAD COACH BRUCE CASSIDY On his thoughts on training camp… DS: Well, obviously, we’d like to be 100 percent healthy. Joakim Nordstrom is not going to start with us – an injury we’ve been looking at, been working his way back in. And obviously, Krech [David Krejci] is still working his way back. We started with no [Kevan] Miller and [John] Moore, and then he got hurt, so that’s one of the primary concerns in the organization where we’re going to be health-wise. Next man up in those situations. Bruce and the team’s done a really good job. Overall, I thought our game was really good. We executed in games; we had different lineups; we had a lot of opportunity for younger players to see what they would do. We certainly managed the minutes of the players that had gone deep in the playoffs with us, and that was by design. I think that if you look at the practices, we ask the guys to show up and work every day and do things they want to do and accomplish, and I think it was designed and set up that way, and I think it was executed that way.

On David Krejci’s status to start the season… DS: You know, it’s to be determined still. He worked his way back out there for practice, and hopefully he’ll continue to do the same, so we’ll evaluate him every day. He’s a possible.

On the changes to TD Garden… CJ: Yeah, I’ll tell you what. It is vastly different. We, when I say we, a number of us up here, took a tour this morning to gauge where we’re going to be in terms of opening day on the 12th. There’s a lot of work to still be done, but it is transformational. Our aspirations when we began the project was to have the best in-arena experience in North America for our eventgoers, and hopefully the feedback will reflect that when we achieve it. As for the journey, this has taken a long time, and I think probably my father here could tell you more about the navigation of the different political circles and perhaps the red tape and bureaucracy that we had to get through in order to see this project to fruition. But, again, all through it, it really is going to be transformational for not only TD Garden, but I think the West End community and the North End community.

On if there is more on his slate moving forward… CJ: I think my father could probably answer this a lot more accurately than I can, but I believe he had a vision long ago about trying to keep our family business just that, a family business, and continue with myself and my siblings in professional management roles. This has been a journey; this has been a long time. I do have two siblings that work out of our corporate headquarters in Buffalo. I spend a day a week in Buffalo and have for many years. I work Mondays out of there, and I come and start my work week here on Tuesdays. But as for a decision-making process, most of our decisions are collaborative, unless of course our chairman has a thought, and of course we do what he tells us to do.

On if he is now trying to learn more about the player and hockey side of things… CJ: Well, you know I’ve been working in the in some capacity since 1994 so I guess this will be about 25 years I’ve been – I don’t feel like I’m a newbie when it comes to hockey operations and club personnel decisions, although I try to empower the people here to my right to make those decisions.

On the culture that has been established in Boston… CJ: It’s funny that you bring this up, because we were walking through Warrior today, and this was after we just toured the TD Garden and all of those renovations, and I looked at Cam [Neely], and I said, ‘Do you remember the days we were in Wilmington and what it was like there on media day?’ It is a total game changer when you think about the and what it is like to come play for us, in terms of the environment, the collaboration we have with the different subsidiaries that are operating here under Delaware North, including the Bruins. I think this is a destination. I like to think this is a destination for a lot of our players, and the pride of the jersey that they have in front. That’s what I think, but I think the players themselves would probably best answer that question.

On this season potentially being affected by the long playoff run… BC: Well, I don’t think there’s a blueprint out there on moving on, including the Patriots. Do the right thing a couple of years ago, they lost and got back and won last year. So right now we’re back here. Typically, the hockey teams have not gone to the final. It’s been a long time, Detroit and Montreal years ago. Even Pittsburgh repeating, it’s a tough thing to do, so some of it will be dependent on the roles of the players, and like they said earlier, we try to manage our training camp. We started with that and see where it goes from there, because things change quickly. So, for us, it’s about how we manage minutes of our players who have been through a lot of these runs. Secondly, we’ve communicated with the players that have been through these, the Bergerons, the Charas that went through it in ’13 and came back the next year and had a great regular season. They didn’t achieve what they wanted in the playoffs; I don’t know if that had anything to do with going to the Cup the year before. Sometimes it’s just hard to repeat, so I think you’ve got to be careful how much you’re reading into that and rely on what the players are telling you and what their bodies are telling.

On if depth is even more important due to the long season last year… DS: Well, I think I’ll correct you in the sense that the teams in the past – we actually did a study that teams in the past four or five years have actually done very well in the regular season…so it’s certainly part of what we looked at. When it comes down to it on a little more of a day to day, you know your team is going to hit a wall at some point in time based on the mileage from the previous season. We have to find those pockets of the schedule, maybe utilize the break effectively which didn’t happen in the past and allow them to recharge. We’ve had some open dialogue about it, but history says the team generally gets off and a healthy part of that gets off to a good start. Mentally and physically, these guys are ready to go. It’s just a matter of getting into the grind and if you can stay healthy. And obviously, we proved last year with 37 players in our lineup, you need that. To be successful, you have to have it, and you run in to challenging parts of the schedule, you’re going to go through injuries, and you have to have other players come in and be able to step up, and that will be no different for us this year.

On signing depth players in free agency rather than filling spots within the organization… DS: Well, I’m still eager to see our young kids develop and take jobs. It hasn’t been for a lack of opportunity that have been provided. I think we said that when we tried our new course that we were going to draft and develop and allow players to take advantage of opportunity, and I think that’s locked with Bruce’s philosophy in terms of if the player’s capable of playing and helping us. You can pick a player. Karson Kuhlman is an example, coming as a college free agent. There was an opportunity and culture here that allowed him to come in and be comfortable and to step in and play. He played in front of other players and it was successful. I don’t think that’s ever going to go away; we want a competitive environment. Every day you walk through the door, we want a competitive environment, and I’ll share two examples that we felt in specific cases for Lindholm being a penalty killer and a left-shot center. We were deficient in that area at the time. We lost Sean Kuraly last time for a period of time, killing penalties, taking draws. We talked about being on the inside of the ice and playing against teams with heavy defense, and [Brett] Ritchie’s improving, but he’s proving he can play in there. Now if he can stay there and occupy that spot on the roster and contribute, that’s to be determined. If not, which is the message we sent to Anders Bjork, was you’ll get that opportunity, just like you did a couple of years ago riding shotgun in a pretty good spot. Unfortunately, he got hurt, but he’ll be back as a result, and all the other players, that message, their development doesn’t stop. But the opportunity will be there if they prove they are the best player.

On if David Pastrnak and David Krejci will play together… BC: Well, it depends what’s best for the team, right? How are we playing? We have a bunch that can do that, mix and match. Pasta will play at times with Krech. It may not be on his line every night; it may be coming off a penalty; it might be if we double shift David [Pastrnak], but he’ll definitely get some shifts with Krejci. How is Kuhlman doing in that role if he starts there? If not, does a guy like Ritchie come in? We didn’t get those looks in training camp. David got hurt early on, unfortunately, so we’re going to have to do it on the fly. So, am I agreeing to it? No, but if it makes us better we will. Then we always go back to who goes up with Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] and Marsh [Brad Marchand]. You have to make sure the right people are in the right spots and it makes us better, not do it just to keep players happy. I think that was brought up a little bit. I think Krech has said it, and he’ll say it again: He believes he can drive a line no matter who is on it, and that’s what we’re asking he does. So, that’s what we’re going to ask of him. He’ll have Jake [DeBrusk] on his left; on his right is still to be determined.

On trying different players to fill open roles… BC: Yeah, I mean you’re right. Last year we were hoping we’d go to JFK [Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson], et cetera for the third line center. We looked at them during the year obviously. There were days they were good players for us, and other days we felt that we could improve. Charlie Coyle, we know what he brings us. We’ve seen enough of that, definitely compared to last year. So the right side with Krech and we’ve got some opportunities there, so that’s probably the players we’re more familiar with. We’ll see if we can do it there. So, yeah, right now I’d rather not. Trying to have the same lineup every night, I think the players appreciate that. I think we’ll always do it a little bit, as players do get stale and it keeps them fresh and motivated if we move some guys around, give them an opportunity in the lineup.

On the center depth… DS: I think it was a factor last year for our hockey club and the success we had, all of those guys that helped drive a line. As Butchy [Bruce Cassidy] referenced, Krejci, despite what everybody else might think, doesn’t really worry about who is on his right side. He’s going to go. You look at Jake [DeBrusk], the success he has had. Charlie Coyle is the same way; Sean Kuraly is the same way. They have roles and responsibilities and standards that Bruce holds to each and every guy. Now organizationally, it’s certainly an area that we wanted to make sure we in charge of. I believe that the center shouldn’t move to the wing if they don’t feel comfortable there; I haven’t had a lot of wingers that really feel comfortable at center. I think organizationally, the trend with JFK, with Jack [Studnicka], with [John] Beecher, you have depth at that position that, and we’re fortunate that if those players move to the wing, you just have to use your senses. We’re about the team, that’s what we’ll do.

CN: I mean, I would agree. I think, from a depth perspective, we’re pretty solid. I really like the fact that when we’re on the road, Butch can not worry as much about matchups based on what Kuraly can do when he plays against top lines. That line is pretty solid for us. I think it gives Butch a lot more flexibility because of the depth we have down the middle.

On the direction the organization is going… JJ: I think that this is a very professionally run organization. You think Cam, you think Butch, and you think all of them are professionals with background history in this game, and I think that’s the respect you see with the players and the organization and why they like working with them. They know they’ve got somebody that understands what they’re doing and rewards for them when they need to be rewarded, and it goes the opposite direction when they don’t. So, I’m very proud of it.

On what is like dealing with the political and business sides of the town… JJ: It’s been a lot like dealing with the press. No, it’s like any other city, quite honestly. It’s not unique to here. It’s got its good points and bad points, and I think we’ve made it a priority to develop a relationship with the political system within the city of Boston and understand them and have them understand us. I think Charlie has done a heck of a lot better job than I did at that point. They understand him. We would’ve never gotten done what’s been on Causeway Street without working together, without being able to work with the powers that be in this community, and they did a good job in both cases. A lot what happened there you know happened because of the Big Dig. They propelled us, but that was 20-something years ago that we did that, and I think the whole community is going to profit by what’s going on there. We went through the building today, and it’s a different place. It’s surprising to me what a big difference we’ve made in this last several years. Amy [Latimer] has been a great leader too, so I’m proud of her, and I think a good job is being done today.

On what allowed the building to be built despite the contention… JJ: It was the people, really. Do you remember the pressure that came out and they said, ‘Jacobs could take his money and go back to Buffalo,’ and Jacobs said he’s going back to Buffalo? It didn’t do a lot of good for me, nor for the people here. And the people really raised a ruckus about it with the political leadership, and they turned around and said, ‘let’s work together.’ It had to be that. That’s the only way it got done. There’s a lot of ins and outs and a lot of characters that are no longer here, but it’s a story in itself.

On when things will change with the decision-making process… JJ: It’s been magnified and maybe misrepresented. There was a trust made recently that put the Bruin asset into a beneficiary so when I croak, it will be the next generation. Nothing has changed as far as positions and authority and responsibility. I still will be in the same position. I think of the benefit though, it’s probably the only sports team in this town right now that can predictably say it will stay pretty much as is in the direction it’s going in the foreseeable and perhaps the next generation. That was my goal. My dad did the same thing for his kids, and it’s the same kind of thinking that I’m putting forward.

On the Torey Krug, Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk contract talks… DS: They’re all ongoing. As I’ve been previously saying that you will not hear through us where those deals are at, and that’s really out of respect for every deal that you negotiate. I understand it makes your guys’ job that much harder, and you do a hell of a job predicting where those are all supposed to go; Joe [Haggerty], I read yours this morning. Those influences are not brought in to our discussions. We have discussions that need to take place, and the other side will hopefully respect that as well. We are in discussions with the players we’ve discussed, because they are a part of our group right now and a very important part of our group. And if things work out and we find that common ground, they probably will be for a long time.

On if Krug, Coyle and DeBrusk are important guys for the future of the franchise… DS: Well, again it remains to be seen in terms of whether we reach deals. They’re important players, all of them are. I like them all; they’re really good players for us, and I respect what they bring to our hockey club now and hopefully they’ll be here.

On how the lack of roster turnover will affect performance… DS: Well, I thought we were a successful team last year, and we have a motivated group. We did inject, we do feel like our depth, and organizationally as we continue to get stronger, so we feel like we have that internal competition. We have players that can come up and do the job. We’ve been testing that over the last few years and had some success but also had some failures, well, and try to learn from it, be very target specific. Be in a collaborative effort with the coaches and everybody, our entire staff to identify the areas in need. I think last year, even the third down and finding Charlie as a result of that was a group effort of understanding really how we want to play and what we want to try to accomplish as a group, and we’re going to continue to try to do that. We’re not going to do it right all the time, but it’s not going to be for a lack of an investigative process both internally and with the staff. So, the turnover this year, we weren’t really in the free agent market. We lost a really good player – two really good players, important players, Marcus [Johansson] and Noel [Acciari] and hopefully we have players to take that ice time and production and bring it back. That remains to be seen, but even though they do represent value for us, but I can’t tell you that they’re going to repeat what the other players did, but I’m hoping that’s the case, because that team was successful.

On if he’ll put putting anyone on LTIR… DS: Yes…we’re working hard to find out what our best capture will be. [John] Moore and [Andton] Blidh will not start with us, and as I referenced, Nordstrom looks like he may have a little delay as well.

On if they have the mindset that they are a favorite this year… DS: I think everybody is starting right dead zero. I think you have to prove that you’re worthy. You have to get in the playoffs, and it’s a hard process to get in. If you take it for granted, you can get kicked in the ass. So, for me, as a group, we respect our players a lot and the approach that they take every day. We’re only worried about the next opponent and getting ready for that, and I think our coaches do a great job of looking at it that way, and I think our players respond to it.

On what not reopening the CBA says about the state of the league… JJ: It’s a real plus. It is always a distraction. I put labor on rest in the sense of uncertainty, and certainly going forward that’s important. I know the commissioner is looking at some television contracts at that time, and when you can talk to your tv vendors and be able to indicate that for the foreseeable future you’ll be going forward and you won’t hit a work stoppage, that helps the value. It’s a plus.

On Kevan Miller… DS: Kevan started back on skates. He’s back on the ice, and he’ll continue along with his rehab accordingly. We don’t have a definitive return to play, but he’s absolutely moving in the right direction, and we’re excited to see him back on the ice.

On if Peter Cehlarik cleared waivers… DS: He cleared. Yes. He will head to Providence and start down there, and again, playing a role in last year, playing a lot of minutes for us up here. We’re happy that he got through. He’s probably upset that he’s not going back to the National Hockey League right now, but he adds to the depth of our group, and he’s an important player.

#10/01/19#