Presidents don't generally make hockey decisions; they make business decisions including hiring the right people to put together a good hockey team.  They comment on the makeup of the roster the way your boss comments on your performance.  I think Neely is charged with making the connection between the Bruins and the city of Boston, and then with Bruindom as a whole.  He has a long history of running organizations in the community, so he knows how to work the public and get a message out.  Sure, he's also a figurehead in the sense that no Bruin fan disliked Neely.  I've met avid Bruin fans who weren't crazy about Park and Ratelle, Bucyk, Middleton, even Esposito - but not Neely.  He's in the Orr/Bourque stratosphere.  But his role in managing the team is quite likely misunderstood.
Posted by Bookboy007

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : http://bruins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39037
Posted by dezaruchi

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Do you realise who that is?  Here is what he does: http://hockeyjournal.com/blog/kirks/2011-12_Boston_Bruins_prospects_roundup
Posted by Orrthebest

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : OK, so he's a figurehead.  A great Bruin, kept around the organization because he's a great Bruin, the fans love him, and he looks great in the position, but with no real decision-making powers. Am I reading this right?
Posted by 49-North

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : OK, so he's a figurehead.  A great Bruin, kept around the organization because he's a great Bruin, the fans love him, and he looks great in the position, but with no real decision-making powers. Am I reading this right?
Posted by 49-North

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : OK, so he's a figurehead.  A great Bruin, kept around the organization because he's a great Bruin, the fans love him, and he looks great in the position, but with no real decision-making powers. Am I reading this right?
Posted by 49-North

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Do you really think they spent 3 years grooming Cam to be a "figurehead"?
Posted by dezaruchi

There allot of Sports President/GMs that say allot to the media. Real tough talk but then there is no follow up, no results. Now Cam has now made two referrals to philosophical disagreements with Juliens approach. The first was "can't win games 0-0" that following summer Chiarelli goes out n gets Horton to put away  Krejci feeds. Then the next season Boston when healthy are the most potent 5 on 5 team in the NHL Stanley Cup is the result. Now Mr. Irrelevant (figure head according to some) has spoken again regarding how he feels about a missing component. I now expect follow up...Again...
Posted by SanDogBrewin

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Sure, why not?  P.R. is important.  It looks good for the team to keep a beloved ex-player involved in the organization.  Are you telling me that, despite his lack of NHL management experience, that he directs P.C. in matters regarding player personnel?
Posted by 49-North

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : I don't believe I implied anything other than the fact he spent 3 years with the organization in upper management before being given his current role as President. I don't see why they wouldn't have given him this "figurehead" position 3 years earlier if it's truly all that it is.  That said, PC is the GM for a reason. He's the one who has the final say on who stays. CJ makes the final decisions on who plays.
Posted by dezaruchi

There allot of Sports President/GMs that say allot to the media. Real tough talk but then there is no follow up, no results. Now Cam has now made two referrals to philosophical disagreements with Juliens approach. The first was "can't win games 0-0" that following summer Chiarelli goes out n gets Horton to put away  Krejci feeds. Then the next season Boston when healthy are the most potent 5 on 5 team in the NHL Stanley Cup is the result. Now Mr. Irrelevant (figure head according to some) has spoken again regarding how he feels about a missing component. I now expect follow up...Again...
Posted by SanDogBrewin

There allot of Sports President/GMs that say allot to the media. Real tough talk but then there is no follow up, no results. Now Cam has now made two referrals to philosophical disagreements with Juliens approach. The first was "can't win games 0-0" that following summer Chiarelli goes out n gets Horton to put away  Krejci feeds. Then the next season Boston when healthy are the most potent 5 on 5 team in the NHL Stanley Cup is the result. Now Mr. Irrelevant (figure head according to some) has spoken again regarding how he feels about a missing component. I now expect follow up...Again...
Posted by SanDogBrewin

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : If you're sure the only reason PC went and got Horton is because of what Neely said about the 0-0 thing, yeah, you're right.  If you believe any piece that picks up the pp, is solely the result of Neelys comments...you're right again. I don't feel that way.  I think the term Mr. "Irrelevant" is also a serial exaggeration to anything written on this thread about Neely. Posted by stevegm

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Yeah, I can't really answer all of these questions, because my post is one of opinion, not fact.  I don't know.  I'm no insider.  My impression is that Neely is a good public face of the organization and he is certainly a popular one, but I don't actually know what he does or if he is all that sharp at running the true hockey operations.  It is not my impression that Neely has "been called to the mat" for anything, just credited with many of the same critiques about the team that you see here daily.  In many ways I am asking the opposite of the questions you've posted since Neely seems to get so much credit already. Like, why does Neely get credit instead of Chiarelli sometimes?  Why is he painted as the one who has noticed the powerplay problems?  Why does Neely publicly complain about things that Chiarelli appears to privately address (or try to)?  How valuable is his "buck-stops-here" mentality? etc? I think Neely got tons of credit for the championship (don't you?).  Plenty of that was probably deserved, but the championship was won largely on the backs of players that Chiarelli assembled and the team remains in an excellent spot (talent-wise, cap-wise) largely because of Chiarelli's smart planning, IMO. If I had to pick one to run the team, I'd pick Chiarelli.
Posted by Fletcher1

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : OK, so he's a figurehead.  A great Bruin, kept around the organization because he's a great Bruin, the fans love him, and he looks great in the position, but with no real decision-making powers. Am I reading this right?
Posted by 49-North

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Sure, why not?  P.R. is important.  It looks good for the team to keep a beloved ex-player involved in the organization.  Are you telling me that, despite his lack of NHL management experience, that he directs P.C. in matters regarding player personnel?
Posted by 49-North

Here's a list of "comparable" players to DK for the 2013 season. There are some players on the list you'd keep DK ahead of (but not many). He'll really need to step up his game next year if he's to truly earn his money. David Krejci: Top 20 Cap Hit Comparables Name Age Team Length Expiry Salary Cap Hit Delta   Krejci, David » 26 BOS 3 2015 $5,250,000 $5,250,000 $0 Carter, Jeff » 27 LAK 11 2022 $6,250,000 $5,272,727 $22,727 Hossa, Marian » 33 CHI 12 2021 $7,900,000 $5,275,000 $25,000 Pominville, Jason » 29 BUF 5 2014 $5,500,000 $5,300,000 $50,000 Perry, Corey » 26 ANA 5 2013 $4,875,000 $5,325,000 $75,000 Getzlaf, Ryan » 26 ANA 5 2013 $6,125,000 $5,325,000 $75,000 Ryan, Bobby » 25 ANA 5 2015 $5,562,500 $5,100,000 $150,000 Kessel, Phil » 25 TOR 5 2014 $5,100,000 $5,400,000 $150,000 Grabovski, Mikhail » 28 TOR 5 2017 $6,000,000 $5,500,000 $250,000 Hemsky, Ales » 28 EDM 2 2014 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Neal, James » 24 PIT 6 2018 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Tavares, John » 21 NYI 6 2018 $4,000,000 $5,500,000 $250,000 Bergeron, Patrice » 26 BOS 3 2014 $4,550,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Plekanec, Tomas » 29 MTL 6 2016 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Kesler, Ryan » 27 VAN 6 2016 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Havlat, Martin » 31 SAN 6 2015 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Gionta, Brian » 33 MTL 5 2014 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Ribeiro, Mike » 32 DAL 5 2013 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $250,000 Horcoff, Shawn » 33 EDM 6 2015 $6,000,000 $5,500,000 $250,000 St. Louis, Martin » 36 TBL 4 2015 $5,500,000 $5,625,000 $375,000 Alfredsson, Daniel » 39 OTT 4 2013 $1,000,000 $4,875,000 $375,000
Posted by dezaruchi

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : Why does the GM get the credit but the team President get pushed aside?  Who's to say that the GM does it all, but the skills and decision making of the President are questioned? Neely was a businessman long before coming to work for the Bruins. Why is Neely called to the mat for the powerplay when Chiarelli is not?  Can't Chiarelli fired Ward?  If not, does that make it Neely's decision?  If so, why can't Neely get any credit for the rest of the success of the team?
Posted by Not-A-Shot

In Response to Re: Kreji possibilities : JW This is pretty delayed response, but guys I would consider upgrades on this team over dk, getzlaf, tavares, kesler, bergy, perry, b ryan, james neal, kessel, hossa 5 yrs ago(not really, he's much older than dk, but a great player).  I know Kessel's mental makeup as you all do, so it would make him a wash with DK, but those other 7 are all better or than DK.
Posted by bigbadbruinsfan

There allot of Sports President/GMs that say allot to the media. Real tough talk but then there is no follow up, no results. Now Cam has now made two referrals to philosophical disagreements with Juliens approach. The first was "can't win games 0-0" that following summer Chiarelli goes out n gets Horton to put away  Krejci feeds. Then the next season Boston when healthy are the most potent 5 on 5 team in the NHL Stanley Cup is the result. Now Mr. Irrelevant (figure head according to some) has spoken again regarding how he feels about a missing component. I now expect follow up...Again...
Posted by SanDogBrewin