Don Sweeney Named Finalist for 2023 NHL General Manager of the Year Award

BOSTON -The National Hockey League announced today, May 24, that Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has been named a finalist for the 2023 NHL General Manager of the Year Award. The winner is selected in a poll of NHL General Managers at the end of the regular season and will be announced at the NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26.

Sweeney previously was named NHL General Manager of the Year following the 2018-19 season.

Sweeney oversaw the construction of a team that made NHL history this season. With a 65-12-5 record (135 points), the Bruins set new league records for single-season points and wins.

Over the last year, Sweeney has made several moves to add key pieces to the team's core, resulting in the Bruins winning the Presidents' Trophy, awarded annually to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season.

Sweeney's work began in early July 2022, when Jim Montgomery was hired as head coach of the Bruins. Montgomery led the Bruins to become the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points and 50 wins. With 65 wins, Montgomery now holds the NHL record for most wins by a coach in his first season with a team.

On July 13, 2022, forward Pavel Zacha was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Erik Haula. He later signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the team.

Zacha responded with a career-high 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points. After 42 games with Boston, the 26-year-old signed a four-year contract extension on January 15, 2023. The 6-foot-4, 199-pound forward was later named the recipient of NESN's 7th Player Award, given annually to the Bruin who exceeded fan expectations.

Prior to the start of the regular season, Sweeney re-signed CaptainPatrice Bergeronto a one-year, $2.5 million contract to return for his 19th season. In 78 games, Bergeron posted 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points and was named a 2023 Selke Trophy finalist following the season.

Sweeney also signed David Krejcito a one-year, $1 million contract. The 37-year-old, who played the 2021-22 season in the Czech Republic, skated in 70 games this season, notching 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points.

Sweeney made additional moves at the 2023 Trade Deadline to add to the team's depth. On February 23, he acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Craig Smith, a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2025 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick. On March 2, the team acquired forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected) and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick.

On March 2, Sweeney re-signed forward David Pastrnak to an eight-year contract extension through the 2030-31 season with an annual NHL cap hit of $11.25 million. This season, the 26-year-old led the Bruins in goals (61), assists (52) and points (113) and was one of just two players in the NHL to score more than 60 goals this season.

Sweeney has been in the Bruins front office since 2006 and was officially named the team's General Manager on May 15, 2015.