Bruins Try To Win Back Fans With Old-School Approach

Bruins Look To Re-Establish Identity Among Boston Fans

The days of the "sad-sack Bruins are at an end," and now, it is "simply a matter of convincing the locals that this time, this time, things are going to be different," according to Adam Proteau of THE HOCKEY NEWS. With Patriots QB Tom Brady out for the season with a knee injury and the Celtics "facing a difficult task of repeating as NBA champs, the time is ideal for the Bruins to make their move and capture more hearts and minds." Proteau noted Boston residents told Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli that they were "excited by the possibilities of the hockey team -- with the caveat that the blue-collar work ethic touted by management remain in place." Chiarelli: "I believe that's an identity that is linked to the old Bruins identity and I know that's something the fans can identify with" (THE HOCKEY NEWS, 11/17 issue).

NOTHING BRUIN: In Boston, Stephen Harris writes the rumor that former Ducks Exec VP & GM Brian Burke could land with the Bruins "makes precisely zero sense," and the "only value in this speculation is it points to a glaring issue that [Bruins Owner] Jeremy Jacobs should rectify immediately, if not sooner: giving GM Peter Chiarelli a contract extension." There is an "absurdity of replacing a guy who has done his job very well," as for "just that reason Chiarelli deserves a new deal." Harris: "Overall, Chiarelli has done a terrific job digging this team out of the hole into which Jacobs and previous management sunk it a few years ago. ... To suggest that Chiarelli ought to be replaced, by Burke or anyone, is ridiculous, and the Bruins' GM doesn't deserve it" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/19).