The Bruins yesterday fired GM Peter Chiarelli after "missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, and will leave the fate of coach Claude Julien up to Chiarelli's successor," according to Jack McCluskey of ESPN BOSTON. Bruins President Cam Neely said, "It was not an easy decision to come to ... but we felt it was the best thing to do moving forward." Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs after being named to the role in January called a non-playoff season for the Bruins "absolutely unacceptable" and "an utter disappointment." He "didn't back away from that" yesterday. Jacobs: "I said for us to not make the playoffs would've been a failure, and so here we are out (of the playoffs)." But he said that the decision to fire Chiarelli "wasn't only about missing the playoffs this season." Jacobs: "It was, again, coming back and doing an audit of what transpired throughout the year, where we were in terms of the organization." McCluskey noted Chiarelli "made two costly decisions last offseason." After letting RW Jarome Iginla leave as a free agent, Chiarelli "failed to replace his scoring potential." He also traded D Johnny Boychuk to the Islanders "just before the season -- a salary-cap move that left the team short." Chiarelli also "has faced criticism of his draft record." Neely said that because of the salary cap, the Bruins' draft misses "have been doubly costly" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 4/15). USA TODAY's Mike Brehm noted Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney "has been considered general manager material, though the Bruins could always choose to look outside the organization." Neely: "We're going to take our time and go through the process and make sure we make a decision we feel is best for the organization" (USATODAY.com, 4/15).
DON'T ASK ME WHY: In Boston, Amalie Benjamin reports there were "few answers" when Jacobs and Neely were asked initially about why they fired Chiarelli, as they both "did their best to avoid the topic they were ostensibly there to discuss." Neely said, "I don’t want to get into specifics, I don’t think it’s fair." Asked whether Chiarelli would have been fired if the Bruins made the playoffs, Neely responded, “It’s a good question. But we are where we are, so it’s hard to answer that” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16). Also in Boston, Stephen Harris reports Jacobs and Neely "would not -- or could not -- offer any concrete reasons" why Chiarelli was let go. Harris cites conversations with players, agents and "other good hockey people around town" as indicating that given Chiarelli’s "outstanding track record for the past eight years, he deserved the chance to fix what ailed the B’s this season." The Bruins "face daunting problems, and some of the blame for them has to fall on Chiarelli." In addition to "some poor draft picks," he had been "too generous and loyal in doling out contracts." These contributed to the Bruins' "cap squeeze, which could be tight again this summer." But if mistakes were made, Chiarelli "has shown the ability to correct them, and he deserved the opportunity to do that again" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/16). In Boston, Steve Buckley writes Chiarelli has "been at the controls for some bad drafts, so surely that’s one reason" for his dismissal. The Bruins "also have cap issues, they didn’t get top-caliber performances from key players, [and] they did little to improve the team at the trade deadline." Yet when pressed for answers, Jacobs and Neely "kept missing" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/16).
CHIA-REALLY? ESPN BOSTON's Joe McDonald wrote under the header, "Bruins Make Chiarelli The Fall Guy." It may have been a "disastrous season" for the Bruins in missing the playoffs, but if "anyone is to blame for the Bruins' lack of success this season, the fingers should be pointed at the players." McDonald: "I don't see how you can fire the GM after one bad campaign. Yes, he made mistakes, but let's not forget the winning mentality Chiarelli helped build in Boston" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 4/15). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote to fire Chiarelli "on his mistakes without measuring them against all the good things he’s done for the Bruins since taking over as GM in Boston nine years ago is a little unfair." If his mandate was to "build a winning team that was a consistent contender for a championship -- this season notwithstanding -- he did that." The one thing you "cannot say about Chiarelli is that he was indecisive." He "never met a blockbuster trade he didn’t like." That, "more than anything, is what got him into trouble." His many good moves "were followed up by equally bad ones" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 4/15).
NEELY WANTED A LARGER ROLE? CSNNE.com's Joe Haggerty wrote Chiarelli's dismissal "was about Neely getting a much stronger voice in the front-office hierarchy and doing away with a high-powered executive whose hiring predated his." It was a "power move to elevate Neely into the most authoritative voice in the hockey-ops department, and that will be understood by the next GM hired in Boston." In most situations around the NHL, a GM who had made the playoffs seven straight seasons and been to the Stanley Cup Final twice in the last five years "wouldn’t have been fired if it was strictly about job performance" (CSNNE.com, 4/15). In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa writes Chiarelli's dismissal "was about Neely’s power -- and how he’s itching to use it." Sweeney, if named to replace Chiarelli, likely will "be a good GM," but he will "have to answer to Neely." Neely has indicated that he has "no intention of negotiating contracts, adjusting draft boards, or conducting viewings" on junior players. He will "leave the heavy lifting to his GM," as he "likes his title of president." Neely "had influence before," but he "had restrictions." Shinzawa: "He didn’t have final say on personnel. He was not authorized to fire Julien earlier this season, which he wanted to do. This is Neely’s show now" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16).
