Don Sweeney has fared pretty well for himself through his first four years as the Bruins’ general manager. The former Boston defenseman committed to a youth movement that’s ahead of schedule, and the team’s manageable salary cap situation is a far cry compared to the Peter Chiarelli era.
For all the good he did balancing the mix of youth and veterans, Sweeney’s tenure hasn’t always been smooth sailing. The head-scratching signings of Matt Beleskey and David Backes during his first two stabs at the July 1 free agency extravaganza remain a sore spot, as does his history of trades.