Bruins GM Don Sweeney Isn't To Blame For This

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Austin Sabourin
July 4, 2023 (4:12)

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Let's delve deeper into the details surrounding Tyler Bertuzzi's decision to join the Toronto Maple Leafs instead of the Boston Bruins.

It's important to clarify that both Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney and Bertuzzi himself never made any commitments regarding Bertuzzi's future with the team beyond the 2023 trade deadline.

While Bertuzzi expressed his positive experiences in Boston and spoke highly of the fans and the overall atmosphere, he did not explicitly state a desire to remain a Bruin. His comments echoed the sentiments commonly expressed by unrestricted free agents in similar situations, with exceptions for players like Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci, who hold a different status.

Sweeney, on the other hand, openly acknowledged the Bruins' challenging salary cap situation. He admitted that signing Bertuzzi, along with the other trade deadline acquisitions Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway, was not a straightforward task given the financial constraints. Sweeney's goal was to assemble the strongest possible roster for the season and make a legitimate run at the Stanley Cup. However, despite his efforts, the team fell short of expectations.

Sweeney's stance remained consistent until recently when he informed the media that the Bruins were highly unlikely to pursue Bertuzzi in free agency.

According to Bertuzzi's agent, Todd Reynolds, the decision was made after he and Bertuzzi turned down the Bruins' final offer, seeking a longer contract term.

When their search for a more favorable deal on the open market proved fruitless, they circled back to Sweeney, only to discover that the GM had already allocated their remaining cap space by signing five one-way contracts.

Although one of those contracts carried an average annual value (AAV) of $2 million, the Bruins still face significant salary cap constraints, with only $6.2 million remaining to sign three additional players.

This is after Sweeney managed to alleviate some of the cap burden by shedding Taylor Hall's $6 million cap hit.

In hindsight, Sweeney's pursuit of three likely rentals in his quest for the Stanley Cup has drawn criticism from some who previously supported the aggressive approach.