Neely: Bruins Will Spend, But Spend Wisely
BOSTON (CBS) – Cam Neely is telling Boston Bruins fans not to worry about the team returning to their penny-pinching ways.
They will spend the money, but they are going to do it wisely.
On his weekly appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger and Massarotti, the Bruins president said the only budget restriction for the team is the NHL's salary cap.
"We have every intention of competing at the highest level. It doesn't necessarily mean we have to spend every last dollar to do that. You look at the teams that do that, they don't always win the cup that year," said Neely.
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"If something happens throughout the course of the year that will make us a better hockey club, and we have to spend more money, we have the ability to do that."
The Bruins have roughly $6 million in salary cap space entering the 2011-12 season, and that is without center Marc Savard on the long-term injured reserve list.
But just because they have the room does not mean the Bruins brass will rush out and sign someone just to fill the space.
"I think it's important that we spend wisely," said Neely. "Make sure that we have available room to do what we may want to do, or an opportunity pops up at some point throughout the year where we have the luxury and ability to do something."
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"This season, we're in a really good position," he said. "We're very happy with our team, just losing three guys from last year's team. I think it gives us the flexibility where if we have the opportunity to do something that really makes sense, where we know we're going to add an impact player, we have the luxury of being able to do that."
98.5 The Sports Hub is the only place to hear every game of the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins 2011-12 NHL season with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes before the puck drops, with Postgame coverage following each game.
