The plan was to wait until after the Bruins season had officially ended (savvy hockey fans knew it was really over the second they traded Joe Thornton) before writing an obituary type piece burying them.
That was before one of our loyal readers and commentators sent an email, basically doing my work for me. By now you should all know two things about me….how much I love to bash the current B’s ownership/management group and how much I love to take the easy way out of work. Presented with an opportunity to do both, here in its entirety is RobzRantz email, titled Bashing the B’s:
I suppose this Rant is a little late. But I wanted to make sure I collected all my thoughts on this subject.
SCREW THE BRUINS. I've had it with this Ownership/Management Group.
Jeremy Jacobs
Over the past few years this former absentee owner has shown his face in and around Boston by showing up on Sunday Night Sports Shows and WEEI Radio. This last ditch effort is to appear that Jacobs gives a crap about YOU, the Bruins fan. Attendance at the Garden for the B's has declined over the years and Mr. Jacobs knows the fan base is starting to smarten up and take notice of the goings on Causeway St.
Yes, Jacobs is a big supporter of local charities, most notably the Jimmy Fund, but giving money to charities is the LEAST he could do and it's quite evident that he is in business to do THE LEAST HE CAN DO. A business man with no ties or loyalties to the Boston area he is nothing more than Joe Pesci in "The Super", , a Slumlord who collects the rent and lets the buildings just rot.
Mike O'Connell
From day 1 we knew that O'Connell was just another Sinden in that he wasn't going to spend money on free agents. And then came Martin (No Points) Lapointe. Then we knew O'Connell was also bad at evaluating talent. Pre and Post-Lock out we heard nothing except how the Bruins Management was poised to become a BIG player in the Free Agent game. After all, it was the current CBA that caused the B's to be so FRUGAL for all those years. Or at least that is what they told us. These last Free Agent signings were proof positive of the ineptness of Bruins Management. The "product" they put on the ice was not worthy of our Storied Franchise or City. They couldn't score or play defense and I believe even Alexander Hamilton had better luck in SHOOTOUTS.
Harry Sinden
I'm sorry but the "Fuzzy Ole Grandpa" act isn’t doing it for me. NEVER HAS FAILURE BEEN MORE REWARDED SINCE THE G.W. BUSH RE-ELECTION. He threw O'Connell under the bus faster than you can say Mariusz Czerkawski. Let's not be fooled, Sinden put his stamp of approval on EVERY move O'Connell made. With the current skipper and 1st mate the S.S. Bruins will suffer the same fate as the S.S. Minnow. For years the Bruins have been considered a joke but who knew the laughs were at OUR expense.
Well, there you have it...couldn't have said it better myself! You folks out there agree with Robz Rant? Is there any hope for this once proud franchise?
Comments (3)
IT's called ...Taking advantage of Loyal, diehard fans for over 2 decades...
IT's called...Finding that rare balance of UNDERSPENDING and UNDERACHIEVMENT...
IT's called... turning generations of New England kids away from hockey ....
IT's called...Everything that happens is everybody elses fault byt theirs.....
IT's CALLED BRUINS..............
Posted by Legend Killer | April 9, 2006 1:58 AM
Posted on April 9, 2006 01:58
In just the past 8 years....Jason Allison, Anson Carter, Byron Dafoe, Bill Guerin, Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov...all 'dumped' for nothing more than a bottom line save to the Jacobs/Sinden bank account...It's pretty pathtetic to watch players develop and or star in a B's sweater and realize that once the team actually has to 'pay' for this performance the stars will be skating elsehwere faster than Dale Arnold can kiss some Bruins ass...You can count on Bergeron skating the same path one day, and on, and on, and on...Robz Rant rocked it hard...
Posted by phillycheesesteaks | April 11, 2006 10:36 AM
Posted on April 11, 2006 10:36
I think it's easy to blame and take aim when a "storied" franchise falters the way the Bruins have. I agree with some of what was said. Mike O'Connell needed to go. Harry Sinden may very well retire and should. But it was O'Connell who made the poor acquistions in the off season. It was O'Connell who under estimated what players would get paid. It was O'Connell who spent all of the teams money on the forward lines and forgot about the 1 position that he actually played, Defense. How could a former defensemen actually believe that you could start the season with 3 rookie defensemen, come on.
I liked and agreed with the Thornton trade, I just wish they could have got 1 more player or draft pick. I really like Sturm and Stuart. I thought we gave up alot to get Tanabe but I like him as well. But it was the Samsanov trade that sent me over the edge. What we got in return for one of our best players was a joke. O'Connell said at the time he traded Sammy that "We" needed scoring? So you trade the teams 3rd or 4th leading scorer for a 3rd or 4th line centermen? Who didn't have 1/3rd the number of points. Where's the lie in that story? I can only hope Sammy is brought back as a free agent next year.
Then O'connell turned around and signed Axelsson to alot of money for several years, I like Axey but I wouldn't have given him that kind of money, period. Then he signed Tim Thomas to a 3 year deal. Once again, I like Thomas, but is a goalie with relatively little experience and just a little success worthy of a 3 year deal? I thought Raycroft and Toivenen were the stars of the present and future? If they have lost confidence in razor then why wasn't he traded, so we could have got something in return?
All of these headaches were created by Mike O'Connell, I in no way blame Harry Sinden, who has such a small role on the everyday business affairs now, that he just doesn't play any factor at all.
I don't believe we have all that bad of a team really. What this team needs is a good second line center, get rid of the always injured and never should have been signed Zhamnov and get a real solid #2 centermen. I also think it may be time to get rid of Glen Murray, this new look NHL you need to be a good skater and he just isn't. So on top of needing a #2 centermen I guess they will need 2 wingers ( hopefully Sammy comes back) and with the pieces we already have, they will have a very good team.
People can't blame it on Jacobs and Harry anymore for being CHEAP, with the salary cap now, they need to look at the front office and find someone who knows talent and can negiotiate a good contract, because Mike O'Connell surely couldn't!
Posted by Willy | April 12, 2006 9:28 AM
Posted on April 12, 2006 09:28