Ex-Bruins' sales pitch

When wooing free agent youngster Blake Wheeler, the Bruins had two front-office men playing significant roles: former Bruins Cam Neely (vice president) and Don Sweeney (director of hockey operations and player development).

"[Neely] and Donny played a large part in talking to Blake Wheeler," said GM Peter Chiarelli. "They've been good."

One can assume that being ex-Bruins helped Neely and Sweeney in their discussions with Wheeler, which is why you're seeing a wave of recently retired NHL stars -- see Brett Hull in Dallas, Steve Yzerman in Detroit, Ron Francis in Carolina -- filling management roles.