Boston Bruins: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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In 1944, Bruins' [[Herb Cain]] set the then-NHL record for points in a season with 82.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 1944 |title=Boston's Herb Cain Wins Scoring Honors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XgtAAAAIBAJ&dq=Herb+Cain+82+points+record&pg=PA14&article_id=2902,3415045 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette}}</ref> However, the Bruins did not make the playoffs that season.

The stars returned from World War II for the [[1945–46 NHL season|1945–46 season]], and Clapper led the team back to the Stanley Cup Finals as player-coach. He retired as a player after the next season, becoming the first player to play twenty NHL seasons. Brimsek proved to be not as good as he was before the war, and after 1946 the Bruins lost in the first playoff round three ~~straight~~consecutive years. After Brimsek was traded to the Blackhawks, the only remaining quality young player was forward [[Johnny Peirson]].

During the [[1948–49 NHL season|1948–49 season]], the original form of the "spoked-B" logo, with a small number "24" to the left of the capital B signifying the calendar year in the 20th century in which the Bruins team first played, and a similarly small "49" to the right of the "B",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6515|title=Boston Bruins Anniversary Logo|website=[[SportsLogos.net]]|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=May 13, 2009|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211235722/http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6515|url-status=live}}</ref> appeared on their home uniforms. The following season, the logo was modified into the basic "spoked-B" form that was to be used thereafter.

[[File:Walter A. Brown, Boston Celtics, 1960.jpg|thumb|upright|left|In 1951, [[Walter A. Brown]] purchased the Boston Bruins from [[Weston Adams]].]]

The 1950s began with Charles Adams' son [[Weston Adams|Weston]] facing financial trouble. He was forced to accept a buyout offer from [[Walter A. Brown]], the owner of the [[Boston Celtics]] and the Garden, in 1951.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1955 |title=Garden Re-elects Brown; to Buy All Bruin Stock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4djAAAAIBAJ&dq=walter+a.+brown+buys+bruins&pg=PA23&article_id=5461,931457 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> Although there were some instances of success (such as making the Stanley Cup Finals in [[1952–53 NHL season|1953]], [[1956–57 NHL season|1957]], and [[1957–58 NHL season|1958]], only to lose to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] each time), the Bruins mustered only four winning seasons between 1947 and 1967. They missed the playoffs eight ~~straight~~consecutive years ~~between~~ (1960 ~~and~~to 1967).

On January 18, 1958, the first-ever black NHL player, [[Willie O'Ree]], stepped onto the ice for the Bruins. He played in 45 games for the Bruins over the [[1957–58 NHL season|1957–58]] and [[1960–61 NHL season|1960–61]] seasons. The "Uke Line"—named for the [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] heritage of [[Johnny Bucyk]], [[Vic Stasiuk]], and [[Bronco Horvath]] – came to Boston in 1957 and enjoyed four productive offensive seasons, heralding, along with scoring stalwarts [[Don McKenney]] and [[Fleming MacKell]], the successful era of the late 1950s. There followed a long and difficult reconstruction period in the early to mid-1960s.

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Weston Adams repurchased the Bruins in 1964 after Brown's death. Adams signed future superstar defenseman [[Bobby Orr]], who entered the league in [[1966–67 NHL season|1966]]. Orr was that season's winner of the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] for Rookie of the Year and named to the second NHL All-Star Team. Despite Orr's stellar rookie season, the Bruins would miss the playoffs.

The next season, Boston made the playoffs for the first of 29 ~~straight~~consecutive seasons, an all-time record. The Bruins then obtained forwards [[Phil Esposito]], [[Ken Hodge]] and [[Fred Stanfield]] from [[Chicago]] in a deal celebrated as one of the most one-sided in hockey history. Hodge and Stanfield became key elements of the Bruins' success, and Esposito, who centered a line with Hodge and [[Wayne Cashman]], became the league's top goal scorer and the first NHL player to break the 100-point mark, setting many goal- and point-scoring records. With other stars like forwards Bucyk, [[John McKenzie (hockey player)|John McKenzie]], [[Derek Sanderson]], and Hodge, defenders like [[Dallas Smith (ice hockey)|Dallas Smith]] and goaltender [[Gerry Cheevers]], the "Big Bad Bruins" became one of the league's top teams from the late 1960s into the 1980s.

In [[1969–70 NHL season|1970]], a 29-year Stanley Cup drought came to an end in Boston, as the Bruins defeated the [[St. Louis Blues]] in four games in the Final. Orr scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the Stanley Cup. The same season was Orr's most awarded—the third of eight consecutive years he won the [[James Norris Memorial Trophy]] as the top defenseman in the NHL—and he won the [[Art Ross Trophy]], the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] and the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]], the only player to ever win four major awards in the same season.

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After a mediocre start, the Bruins fired coach [[Pat Burns]] in favor of [[Mike Keenan]]. Despite a 15-point improvement, the Bruins missed the playoffs in [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]], and Keenan was let go. Center [[Jason Allison]] led the Bruins in scoring. The following season, [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], the Bruins won their first Northeast Division title since [[1992–93 NHL season|1993]] with a core built around [[Joe Thornton]], [[Sergei Samsonov]], [[Brian Rolston]], [[Bill Guerin]], [[Mike Knuble]] and [[Glen Murray (hockey player)|Glen Murray]]. They lost in six games to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.

The [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]] found the Bruins finishing seventh in the East, but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion [[New Jersey Devils]] in five games. In [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]], the Bruins won another division title and appeared to get past the first round for the first time in five years with a 3–1 series lead on the rival Canadiens. However, the Canadiens rallied back to win three~~-straight~~ consecutive games, upsetting the Bruins.

[[File:Chara, Zdeno.jpg|thumb|left|The Bruins acquired [[Zdeno Chára|Zdeno Chara]] on July 1, 2006, naming him the new team captain.]]

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During the last two months of the [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17]] regular season, the Bruins fired head coach Claude Julien and promoted [[Bruce Cassidy]] to interim coach. Cassidy's very slight changes in coaching to emphasize the players' speed and hockey skills,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/boston_bruins_why_the_atlantic_division_is_there_for_the_taking/s1_7899_24175654 |title=Boston Bruins: Why the Atlantic Division is there for the taking |last=Reissis |first=Alexandros |date=June 15, 2017 |website=yardbarker.com |publisher=Yardbarker |access-date=June 24, 2017 |quote=With the 2016–2017 NHL season finished, it is time to look ahead to next season...The Boston Bruins, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, will look to take another step forward under head coach Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy, who replaced Claude Julien, turned the Bruins into a team that used speed and skill, and it worked. Even though the B's lost in Round 1 against the Ottawa Senators in six games, this season was a sign of great things to come. |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174108/http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/boston_bruins_why_the_atlantic_division_is_there_for_the_taking/s1_7899_24175654 |url-status=live }}</ref> as opposed to Julien's, resulted in the Bruins achieving an 18–8–1 record through their remaining regular season games, finishing third in the Atlantic Division and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since the 2013–14 season. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bruins lost to the Ottawa Senators in six games.

Cassidy returned as head coach for the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]], leading the Bruins to the playoffs ~~for the second~~a ~~straight~~consecutive ~~year~~season. They had a record of 50–20–12, including an 18-game point streak, which lasted from December 14, 2017, to January 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-extend-point-streak-18-win-over-senators-3-2 |title=Bruins extend point streak to 18 with win over Senators, 3–2 |date=January 25, 2018 |website=nbcsports.com |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=May 12, 2018 |quote=OTTAWA, Ontario – Jake DeBrusk wasn't even trying to score and ended up with the winner. DeBrusk beat Mike Condon with 8:41 left to lift the Boston Bruins over the Ottawa Senators 3–2 on Thursday night for their fifth ~~straight~~consecutive win. |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513152153/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-extend-point-streak-18-win-over-senators-3-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> They finished one point behind the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. They defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, 4–3, but ultimately lost to the Lightning in round two, 4–1. The season saw young players perform well, including [[Jake DeBrusk]], [[Danton Heinen]], [[Ryan Donato]], and [[Charlie McAvoy]]. The Bruins also acquired veterans [[Rick Nash]], [[Nick Holden]], [[Brian Gionta]], and [[Tommy Wingels]] through trades or through free-agent signings.

During the [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19 season]] the Bruins finished the regular season in second place in the division with a 49–24–9 overall record. During the trade deadline, the team acquired [[Charlie Coyle]] and [[Marcus Johansson (ice hockey, born 1990)|Marcus Johansson]]. In the first round of the [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs]], as in the previous season, they faced the Maple Leafs, defeating them in seven games. In a six-game series, the Bruins defeated the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] in the second round and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2013. The Bruins won the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping out the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in four games, thus winning the [[Prince of Wales Trophy]] and advancing to the [[2019 Stanley Cup Finals]] for the third time in 10 years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satriano |first1=David |title=Bruins will play Sharks or Blues in Stanley Cup Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-will-play-stanley-cup-final-against-blues-or-sharks/c-307435680 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 18, 2019 |date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517135326/https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-will-play-stanley-cup-final-against-blues-or-sharks/c-307435680 |url-status=live }}</ref> They faced the [[St. Louis Blues]] in a rematch of the [[1970 Stanley Cup Finals]]. This time, however, the Blues would emerge victorious, winning in seven games.

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Jacobs represents the club on the NHL's board of governors, and serves on its executive committee, and he has chaired the finance committee. At the NHL board of governors meeting in June 2007, Jacobs was elected chairman of the board, replacing the [[Calgary Flames]]' [[Harley Hotchkiss]], who stepped down after 12 years in the position. Jacobs has frequently been listed by the ''[[Sports Business Journal]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/jeremy-jacobs/|title=Jeremy Jacobs – Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame|date=July 25, 2012|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923200638/https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/jeremy-jacobs/|url-status=live}}</ref> as one of the most influential people in sports in its annual poll<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/|title=SportsBusiness Journal|website=sportsbusinessjournal.com|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=September 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050920162242/http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> and by ''The Hockey News''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-hockey-news-people-of-power-and-influence-no-3-jeremy-jacobs |title=The Hockey News' People of Power and Influence: No. 3 – Jeremy Jacobs |work=The Hockey News |date=August 20, 2019 |access-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228212810/https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-hockey-news-people-of-power-and-influence-no-3-jeremy-jacobs |url-status=live }}</ref> His company owns TD Garden and he is partners with [[John W. Henry|John Henry]], owner of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Boston Red Sox]], in the [[New England Sports Network]] (NESN).

After taking over as owner in 1975, the Bruins have been competitive (making the playoffs for 29~~-straight~~ consecutive seasons from [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]] to [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]], 20 of which were with Jacobs as owner) but have won the Stanley Cup only once, in [[2011 Stanley Cup Finals|2011]] and only in his 36th year as owner. Under previous ownerships, the Bruins had won the Stanley Cup five times. Under Jacobs, the Bruins have reached the Stanley Cup Finals seven times (twice against the Bruins' arch-rival Montreal Canadiens in [[1977 Stanley Cup Finals|1977]] and [[1978 Stanley Cup Finals|1978]], twice against the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in [[1988 Stanley Cup Finals|1988]] and [[1990 Stanley Cup Finals|1990]], finally winning in 2011 against the [[Vancouver Canucks]], and losing in [[2013 Stanley Cup Finals|2013]] and 2019 to the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues). Jacobs' management of the team in the past earned him spots on [[ESPN.com]]'s "[[Page 2]]" polls of "The Worst Owners in Sports,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/2001/0710/1224543.html|title=The List: Worst owners in sports|work=Page2|publisher=ESPN.com|access-date=February 23, 2009|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218215928/http://espn.go.com/page2/s/2001/0710/1224543.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and number 7 on their 2005 "Greediest Owners in sports" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/owners/greediest.html|title=The Greediest Owners in Sports|work=Page2|publisher=ESPN.com|access-date=February 23, 2009|archive-date=December 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219004100/http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/owners/greediest.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' has suggested longtime star defenseman Ray Bourque, who "often drawn the ire of the [[National Hockey League Players' Association|NHLPA]] for his willingness to re-sign with Boston with minimal negotiations over the years" instead of setting the "watermark for defenseman salaries", requested and received a trade in 2000 since the team's "hardline and spendthrift ways" meant he would have to make the move to get his elusive Stanley Cup (Bourque holds the record for most games played before winning the Cup).<ref>{{cite news|title=CNNSI.com – NHL Hockey – Say It Ain't So: Boston Bruins – Wednesday May 09, 2001 05:36 PM|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 9, 2009|archive-date=July 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707143151/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to the [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement]] signed in 2005, fans felt team management was not willing to spend to win the Stanley Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/31/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=31&passYear=2004&passListType=Misc&uniqueId=313364&datatype=Misc |title= NHL Team Valuations |work=Forbes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317151159/http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/31/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=31&passYear=2004&passListType=Misc&uniqueId=313364&datatype=Misc |archive-date=March 17, 2011 }}</ref>

Since 2005, Jacobs' public image has improved as he invested in the team and rebuilding the front office to make the team more competitive. The Bruins were the second highest-ranked team in the NHL in the 2008–09 season and were the top-seeded team in the East. With a complete change in management, including now-former general manager [[Peter Chiarelli (ice hockey)|Peter Chiarelli]] – who lost his position with the Bruins on April 15, 2015, with the May 20 hiring of [[Don Sweeney]] – long-time assistant general manager with the team. Sweeney and team president Cam Neely had continued working with the longest-term Bruins head coach ever, [[Claude Julien (ice hockey)|Claude Julien]] until his firing on February 7, 2017,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Bruins Relieve Claude Julien of Coaching Duties|url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-relieve-claude-julien-of-coaching-duties/c-286508860|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=February 7, 2017|date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804213821/https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-relieve-claude-julien-of-coaching-duties/c-286508860|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Bruce Cassidy]] being hired as interim head coach with Julien's firing – Cassidy would become the permanent head coach of the Bruins as of April 26, 2017.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|title=Bruce Cassidy Named 28th Head Coach of the Boston Bruins|url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruce-cassidy-named-28th-head-coach-of-the-boston-bruins/c-289096528|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 26, 2017|date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=October 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027203730/https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruce-cassidy-named-28th-head-coach-of-the-boston-bruins/c-289096528|url-status=live}}</ref> Neely has continued as team president since the Bruins' most recent Stanley Cup victory in 2011.