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Cam Neely On Felger & Mazz: Competing For Stanley Cups 'Still Our Goal'

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins kick off the 2015-16 season Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets, but there is an air of uncertainty surrounding a team that is dealing with injuries to key defensive players, extensive turnover on the forward lines, and an influx of young prospects that may not see the TD Garden ice this season.

Still, the team's goal remains the same, according to President Cam Neely.

Joining Felger & Mazz Thursday afternoon, Neely insisted that the Bruins still expect to "compete for Stanley Cups" this year and every year. "We have expectations to make the playoffs," Neely said in no uncertain terms, clarifying that he does not mean he would settle for merely getting to the postseason.

Felger tried to get Neely to say definitively that Claude Julien was going to be the Bruins head coach all season, but Neely wouldn't take the bait - and instead turned the tables.

"Can your boss say that you're going to be here for the year, 'come hell or high water'?" he asked. Felger said he would like him to - of course.

When asked about the power structure and workflow in the Bruins front office, Neely said GM Don Sweeney has his own plan in place and he gives him as much autonomy as possible.

"I do know what [Sweeney's] plan is now," Neely said. "The plan could deviate based on what happens during the year...For the most part, I know what Don is looking to do and we have conversations on a regular basis about our team."

But he made it clear who still has final say: "If I don't like [his plan] then I will tell him I don't like it, and we are not going to do it."

When asked about trading Dougie Hamilton, Neely said they team tried to sign him to "three or four" different deals, and would have matched the Calgary Flames' contract with the young defenseman - making it even more clear that Hamilton simply did not want to be in Boston.

On the subject of Julien, who has reportedly tweaked and evolved his system to better fit the current style of play that is winning consistently in the NHL. Julien has at times faced criticism during his mostly successful run as Bruins head coach for his seeming unwillingness to deviate from his conservative, defensive system, or take more chances with younger players that might be prone to mistakes.

Neely said Julien is always looking at how he can get better, just like every coach, every player, and every front office exec in the league should do every year.

"If you want to be a better player, you have to work on different parts of your game - just like the coach," he said.

Listen to the full interview with Cam Neely on Felger & Mazz below.

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