“Clueless?”

Maybe they have a Master Plan over there on Causeway Street but they’re keeping it a big secret from the fans. While Chiarelli was off at minor-league GM meetings, it was reported that the Assistant GM and a long-time Canadian-based scout were summarily terminated. These two long-time employees were the latest casualties in the house cleaning that’s been going on for about a year. The question is, what was so urgent about getting rid of these guys that couldn’t wait until the General Manager could personally deliver the news? It was an utterly classless move on the part of an organization that (at one time) commanded respect throughout professional sports.

Whether these guys should’ve been let go is a different issue than the way it was handled.
The team has failed to make playoffs the last two seasons and hasn’t been a Cup contender for at least a decade. The fans demanded changes and the owner responded by committing to “spend to the cap” and by changing senior management. No one can fault the King for finally taking a proactive approach. He installed Prince Charlie as his “eyes and ears” on the premises, but everyone in town knows that the Boss still calls the shots from his castle in beautiful Buffalo.

Anytime a new boss enters the picture he ought to be able to bring in people with whom he has a certain level of comfort, as purportedly occurred when Julien was hired last week. But the timing of this decision stinks. If it had been done in the usual and customary manner (shortly after the season) no one would’ve raised an eyebrow, as off-season staff changes are routine in the business. But the B’s just recently extended the AGM’s contract an extra year only to terminate him less than a week after the draft and three days before the critical free agency period starts. It doesn’t add up, and it’s compelling evidence that whoever is calling the shots needs a compass to find his posterior. Was there internal strife over the selection of Hamill last week?

Most, if not all, of the staff openings for the upcoming season have already been filled around the league, so the AGM will be paid through next year until he finds another job. How many guys will the B’s be compensating for doing nothing? The AGM and the scout have good reputations around the NHL and they’ll have no trouble grabbing spots as they become available.

On Sunday, the free agency frenzy begins. Chiarelli has already publicly indicated that the B’s won’t be “playas” like last season. With everything that’s transpired of late, Boston isn’t exactly an ideal destination for free agents. Even though the salary cap will be increased by $4-5MM, the B’s don’t have a great deal of room to be freewheeling spenders. There are a few prize players available this summer, but most appear to be setting up residence in Beverly Hills. From the B’s perspective, that’s not necessarily a negative, because (outside of the glaring “five hole” in net) they don’t need impact players but quality depth players.

This is Chiarelli’s team, sink or swim. One need not own a crystal ball to ascertain that another poor showing by the team next season will spell doom for the incumbent. Right now, the fan base would consider nothing less than qualifying for the Playoffs next spring. The Bruins have a lot of holes to fill, and let us hope that the choices made by the GM prove to be correct.