After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney is under significant pressure to make major improvements this summer. The Bruins, who were expected to contend for the Eastern Conference title, instead fell far short of expectations, leaving the organization and its fans questioning what went wrong.
Sweeney, who’s held the GM position since 2015, has overseen a competitive team for nearly a decade. He’s adeptly managed the salary cap and consistently kept Boston in the playoff conversation. However, despite his long tenure, he’s yet to deliver a Stanley Cup — a benchmark by which NHL GMs are often judged.
As the offseason begins, Sweeney’s ability to address the team’s issues — including bolstering the roster around likely captain David Pastrnak — will be under a microscope. The Bruins still have a strong core, but it’s unclear whether Sweeney can make the right moves to fill the remaining gaps.
Some may find it hard to believe Sweeney’s job could be in jeopardy, but the reality is that he must prove his recent roster moves, including a trade deadline sell-off, were part of a bigger vision. With coaching decisions, free agency, and the upcoming draft — where Boston holds the fifth overall pick — all on the horizon, Sweeney faces a critical offseason.
He must deliver on all fronts to keep his job secure. If he succeeds, he’ll be praised as a strategic mastermind. But if he fails, the Bruins may start considering new leadership — especially if the 2025-26 season starts poorly.