Cam Neely

I expected to big chill get back to the folk also a couple of minutes but it is opening night for the Bruins over at the he mean garden as they take on the capitals and joining us. The vice president. The Bruins in -- immediately hello am. We're doing great how -- you have.

I -- good thank you guys.

I have a good -- This is -- third season and I remember when you got the job we had you want that afternoon and I said that I asked the question of -- are they using you. For marketing purposes here in -- your big name and everybody loves you understand and he said to me. If that's the case I won't be here on the job launch so I take it. That this has been a work in progress and everybody is involved and obviously they're not using it was a marketing tool. -- using Europe your expertise into into all of us.

Extend its -- have been a really good relationship by a was -- gonna go meant to be announced within the first year that's why I just wanted it to do little one year deal the first go round. C one how much I would enjoy it to what -- really -- well my involvement and it's been better than expected.

Was that a concern at the beginning because let's face your big name and is now only. The organization which is talking about this in the last hour how things have changed his excitement for opening night for the Bruins and let's face it -- two years three years ago. And a lot of excitement for opening night were you fearful. At the time that they were just trying to use your name value.

Well not so much not so much that planners is -- You know today completed its it's one thing to. You know you know almost have to play for a team because they -- rights. And but aside from that it's it's another thing to wanna work for -- so. I opportunities passion for the the Bruins and our fans and and you know I wanted to see if I really wanted to commit long term to work for the organization and and I am thrilled today a -- took that -- In the first year in its spin great learning experience have really enjoyed it and obviously. With what's happened over the past couple years in my case could be experiment it's it's gone on. On and and how the team news is gotten better it's been it's been enjoyable to be around again.

I'll -- my next question Peter surely obviously has a nose for talent and able to put together. Good and decent and even better than decent rosters right now -- contending roster. I you've got a situation where you've got a coach that I beach who obviously is change the mentality over there. You've got a good young players you brought in some other older players that have -- help -- little bit how close are you right now.

Well or close to delete Leo we should have gone farther than we did last year we already there's that the players recognize that. We will learn from those experiences. We went through as I mentioned the other days to. Some people. Two years ago is really the first year a lot of our players actually were in the postseason so they got experience of Madden and we improved off of that. Last year was a lot of let it -- americanized and it never been in the second round so. It'd be that close to being in the conference finals you know some and to it is certainly learn from and build -- open. You know listen oh lead. We deal were better. Playoff team we feel were better team to go deeper com. We certainly understand the challenges ahead to have the type regular season that we had but I think we we don't believe were were better playoff team.

Him back -- you for a second -- still have a desire. You know play on QB of all how much does this collection of terrorists published how difficult it is to go wouldn't. It into negotiations not to -- Pulitzer with a spectrum and a half. Now it and it's so it's from said he doesn't jump on -- its tomato out its its target -- regional and audit that guys don't talk you can.

The now it's about positive and as reflecting. Yeah. -- didn't -- your nature so -- true it's really hard it's hard not to I. I've used this line a few times it's it's you know it's hard going from being able to black people around the -- And apparently too you know potential and --

I think it's in jail except that. You I think its expectations are going to be extremely higher on here for myself. I mean filmmakers -- the -- files and extremely disappointed by ten. Can we stop the tap dancing around the Phil Kessel issue what exactly. Happened I don't believe was about money are all about money. What was it about this guy. That lent his departure. There we don't know.

oh boy you refer to as far as tap dancing everything I've heard Peter stated it you know Phil didn't wanna be here is act.

Oh I know I agree I'm not saying that it's actually -- them asking you know why why didn't wanna be here.

Well he hasn't he hasn't come out and says said that rather than he really didn't have any interest in negotiating a contract prior to the draft in. And quite frankly made it very clear that he he didn't have any interest in signing a contract with a so he has come out exactly why him. They speculate and like we are. Obviously -- He has some issues with been set out class a couple of years ago -- any athlete -- but you know so learning permit an -- still. You know our harbored some bitterness. Above that. You know as their coach who said they you know he wasn't getting any bonuses to make them worse player.

Yeah you'll you'll you're well rounded player I'm wondering if this is a -- an exact some setbacks is no question. But he could score goals pretty quickly in his career do you think that that might have been -- way. Made him one dimensional player in that he loved doing that that's something he did well and maybe the rest of his game was not coming up blossom.

Well it's also. Listen we all have flaws. You know you that we all can get better in certain areas is an athletes in. You know either work on a -- don't. You know fill I don't think really believe that he needed to work on areas that we study did you know he certainly. You know we were asking him to skate faster we -- shoot the the part better. We were asking him to to work and other areas of his game and at times loose that wasn't received well.

I get the feeling and I workload earlier today with the -- holly and he said -- be snap -- column it was office last year to -- in riot act now we all know what happened to -- agreement playoff record benched him. A lot of people including myself -- the time runner why then you hear the reasons why and I think it made him a better player and certainly. Something happened because city kid didn't kick in the butt because it came out last year electric I must score 36 goals. An and overcame you know some injuries and the model situation again but. No I don't understand closer today didn't have to bring him in there to read and -- act with the sky. Was your back -- locker room that is teammates like him or it just seemed like you know you hear rumors and went all the time -- about about this guy and just try to get to the Harvick. -- that a lot of his teammates like him or did appreciate his work ethic.

Well I I think -- and he was like I mean you know away from. Away from the game I don't think anybody disliked -- mean you know it's very quiet HI eight young man. I don't think it was that I think it you know just. It's -- you know everybody wants to win anyway euphoria it and you have to if it is between game -- one year -- certain role within that team -- and you know I think of the great thing about. Our coaching staff in -- more important there head coaches. You know everybody's treated equal regardless of you know what. What role he may have on the on the team and and he's ASCII and you know he would be asking bill CP UBS in this Sean ordinances however I -- it opens -- so. You know I think it's -- You know it's and it's Phil still you know he obviously is got a tremendous amount of talent he can understand had to. Petty utilized that talent different ways and and and also -- proven various of this game you know he's he's gonna have a great career but. You know it's one of those sales were. He would times. Probably didn't do the things that you know of the coaching staff would like to have seen him do it worked on throughout the course of are these.

Followed coats terrorize him. --

Look beyond that he can't he can't he's certainly can't treat players the -- he's. I don't know that a threat.

yeah I'm just I'm just gonna say that about you because you obviously. Set an awful lot in in describing him on the other hand you were fairly diplomatic. Have you -- dealt with a lot different parent would just set your images and advocate for everybody's got -- safari. Firefox at camp through very diplomatic sort of but the.

Close that is it is it's safe to say that the chemistry on this team that it might be better now that he's not around.

Well I you know the I think the territories is great. Who's really good last year to -- obviously. You know I'm not in the locker room on a regular basis. And we'll lift these guys that we got to. We've got a really good core group of players and you know when when -- our our players that are leadership group or are trying to you know -- era but he pulled -- same directions so. You know I think distraction. That it was going on throughout the off season with bill and -- you know some of the things that you know they may be have. Maurer. Understand it about you know me not being there it certainly will will cause for less distractions in and and make you know probably a better environment them.

Candidates talked about the roster in the improvements that you made last year certainly in the Carolina series with some injuries I think you had some trouble getting the puck out of the out of your own end. Defensively do you think with the addition of Morrissey and may be -- coming on. You've addressed that does sufficiently.

Well I think that is there was certainly an area where we so. We could be used. Hard awaken and parents soon in the post season. Kabila dole in retrieve those proximate time -- and get that first pass and get out of our zone. So I think you're right with the with you know -- other areas that leading we felt we needed to improve on. Defensively in and one of the main reasons. We we felt we needed Gallic wars was too you know playing loose with chart below the back retrieve -- And take that first initial pass to get our members zone. Obviously with the help the -- you know -- skating -- above average so you know those two guys there we should we should be able to do that -- last year.

How much pressure I'm Patrice Bergeron Marco -- this year to make up. For some of the 36 -- lost the by the departure Kessel.

You know I don't know it's really so much pressure as it is too for those guys that they wanted to you know they wanna. You know obviously. Marcos comin' up an injury and didn't play much last year so. You know he's excited about being back and in getting back towards that thirty goal plateau that he that he has been a couple years prior -- and then obviously with Patrice. No of the year removed from the concussion -- you know. We don't believe can can improve is cool pull poses based on on Indian health geared more competent. Federal role. These guys are gonna feel any pressure I think if they get back to play in the way that people play in it'll just happen doesn't actually.

Are not so much gold for what -- Much will improve defects -- gold lead and we've -- less goals against.

Well our goal against last year was pretty columnist site. Person simply play if we play the way you know we we we are taught to play in coach to play. You know we should we should be very strong articles -- obviously you know Tim Thomas had -- election and expect them to good use this year Tuukka Rask is. A great young goaltender force in you know also defensively in an article in which means it shouldn't be as much -- concerns there was maybe a couple years ago.

It seems at times that Tim Thomas can go every single might wanted to ask you about -- What are you expecting from him and he isn't like restricted free agent at the end of the season correct. So so you probably expecting an awful lot for him this year to make the decision at the end of the year are going forward.

Well -- feel. Two cases. Local candidates it's -- strong com. Strong upside isn't going to be. You know probably one of our top goaltenders in the organization for numbered years so. We leave watched him develop and Providence and he actually last year. Had a phenomenal training camp in. You know who wasn't for the situation that we area and look goaltenders he can have in Carolina and you know he's gonna give -- games this year for us see what these so Bo we have. An idea worries about right now but he'll have enough games that mean you know I don't thicker -- plans on playing. -- you know atomic games. One of the things that we so last year was -- coach you know given -- breaks -- make up there he felt they needed it and you know ultimately. EU RBC you know wanna please so the position that you know advocate good playoff spot. But then as a matter right field Norton is pretty kaposi's.

It's great luxury to have two great goaltenders on the other hand if you paying. Both of those guys come next season because -- develops this year an awful lot of money you're tying up an awful lot of money at that one position. We don't bring it up and -- so I would I would guess that. Bill well the best case scenario is that you're paying him because he's worked that he has a great season for. But it does it does you do pay the price.

Well yeah and you know on this cap world there's a lot of a lot of -- and -- trying to make sure you can. You can now lock up your young players and keep them in your system and and build. You know build. Championship teams and you know we want the players understand you know there's only somebody wage keep -- Slice up the prize in and you know we want it we want guys to wanna be here -- and -- understand or trying to do and -- so we don't know what a great. Sports -- uses and we want guys to understand hey you know this is going to be an opportunity here to win cups not just for one here but we're trying to you know trying to build something here that we compete regular --

The old days when you -- and you had to be like 32 and on one leg before you go free agency in any money. It has and you started to go to Boston -- have an -- actually Syria and Celtic ray -- don't wanna get. --

two guys that you lost and yell and and PJ afta see in how much those guys gonna -- in particularly also if you could comment as well about my favorite guys is the fourth one I love that fourth line last year couldn't talk to bottom and often. Now a division and then there belong with bits and -- so. What's chemistry and -- like that fourth line and and PJ axles one of those unsung heroes I don't think a lot of fans really appreciated.

Yet PGA you know he's a troop -- Communist a the scary it was a flash player or smartest hockey players you'd Nolan and not the most fleet of foot but got the job done and in the week -- that. The Time Warner's right to star break and then some of the younger guys and maybe get them involved in those roles of kill penalties and we brought in a ST station whose. You know a little bit better skater a little bit Revere. I think that he's -- mesh well with Gordon and bids. I think that's gonna be one of the top if you wanna call for clients in the lead these guys here erratic play hockey that they can also get involved physically and you know now he need you need those guys to hopes of minutes to help you some the other guys.

I thought that fourth line last year and I'm hoping the same this year there are many there -- few times last year when the team was in the scoring drought are during game they needed a pick me up that fourth line seem to go out now as you said not only is physical. But -- can put the puck in the net which you don't see a lot of four lines cable don't.

It's true and and I agree with you last year I think therefore quietly carried the play of most of the team's fourth lines -- and they were able to generate some. -- offense for arson and they were able to generate. Some scoring opportunities in the and and get the momentum back in our favor and I think we're gonna see him again this year of those guys.

I wanted to get practical and and for second in Glenn's point about the the potential to have to at a high price guys. At 35 I I thought -- the other contract for Tim Thomas although you know deserved it was a little bit high. Given his age is there an option clause of some sort that the that the -- team has. You know five million a year for a 35 year old guy if maybe two years down the road if Rask is. Is establishing himself as the futures are way out of that that deal.

Yeah absolutely you pay him the five million plastic that's not -- Die life you know the only thing you have uses. The bio. So no answers is no but. They'll tend to somebody that has gotten better as the years have gone on and and as soon as we. Heard from. Ten men and there aren't GM. He hasn't turned excuse he has got a lot of NHL games under his belt to sort of speak to be age that he is because of this these the path that is taken and we get here so. Hopefully that'll be in his favor.

Remember that -- of the -- clauses with a -- millions -- units or I don't remember that an extra 35 fact that it was certainly you know if they can't good luck tonight good luck to the whole season and we look forward -- got him from --

Well it sounds good thanks guys uncle Leo we'll bring a lot of excitement this year got.

not allowed to hear him -- vice president with the approach in the course. Former great player.