Boston Bruins sign general manager Don Sweeney to a multi-year contract extension

“We are proud to extend Don Sweeney to a multi-year contract as General Manager of the Boston Bruins,” Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said in the press release announcing Sweeney’s new deal. “Under his management, the Boston Bruins have been one of the winningest franchises in the league and a perennial playoff contender year in and year out.

“While we recognize there is work to be done to achieve the ultimate goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Boston, I’m confident that Don’s commitment to being best-in-class on and off the ice will help us climb that mountain once again.”

In the 2021–22 regular season, the Bruins finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 51–26–5 record before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins subsequently fired head coach Bruce Cassidy on June 6.

Sweeney was named the NHL’s top general manager in 2019, the same year the Bruins lost to the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

During his playing career, Sweeney spent 15 seasons with the Bruins before wrapping up his career with the Dallas Stars in 2003–04. The 5’10” defenceman helped the Bruins reach the 1990 Stanley Cup Final and amassed 273 points (52 goals, 221 assists) in 1,115 NHL games with Boston and Dallas.

After retiring, Sweeney rejoined the Bruins in 2006 to become the team’s director of player development. He was named assistant general manager in 2009, winning the 2011 Stanley Cup while serving in that capacity.

Sweeney became the eighth GM in Bruins history on May 20, 2015, replacing Peter Chiarelli. At Sweeney’s first draft as general manager, the Bruins selected Jake DeBrusk, Jakub Zboril, and Zachary Senyshyn in the first round.