Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs, CEO Charlie Jacobs and President Cam Neely yesterday "sifted through the detritus of another season that fell far short of a Stanley Cup," according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the BOSTON GLOBE. Their remarks contained "all standard stuff for the most part, albeit with all three decidedly placing part of the blame at the feet" of former GM Peter Chiarelli, "be it for onerous salary cap restrictions created during his tenure or the failure of myriad draft picks to crack the roster." Jeremy Jacobs said, "For a period of time we stopped being in an invest mode, running with the (players) we had, and you pay a price in this game if you’re not constantly investing in the next generation." Charlie Jacobs added, "We had leveraged our future to the point where something had to change last summer. We made the change, (dismissed Chiarelli), and we’re righting the ledger, if you will, by stocking our team back up with prospects with the ability of cap flexibility to make the proper moves going forward. We will always invest in this team" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/21). Jeremy Jacobs said of Neely, "He is my leader right now and I ride with him." Asked whether he envisioned Neely having a long run in his role, Jacobs said, "Absolutely. He is the personality that I’m looking forward to seeing (in the team)" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/21).
IS CAM THE MAN? In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa writes Neely as a player "had no trouble yanking his team into situations in which it had no business competing." It is "hard for him to understand why, years later, some of the players he’s helped to identify as NHLers can’t do the same." Neely is Jeremy Jacobs' "right-hand man" and the bridge between Jacobs' "business niche" and GM Don Sweeney's hockey operations. The Bruins’ customers "are angry," as they have been "paying big prices to watch a snoozing product for the last two seasons." Diving ratings on NESN "show they are changing the channel." The business side "expects a spike soon." Neely is "in the middle -- a businessman and a hockey operations executive in one" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/21). Also in Boston, Christopher Gasper asks, "On the verge of his seventh season as club president, is Cam Neely simply a fan-friendly franchise figurehead or is he the blunt and fiery final decision-maker for the Bruins?" It is "unclear, and that's part of the Bruins' problem." Both Jeremy and Charlie Jacobs yesterday "were quite clear that Neely is the commandant of Causeway Street." But Neely "appears reluctant to accept the final-say mantle, even with ownership, inches to his right, anointing him with it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/21).
