Cam Neely On Bruce Cassidy Extension: “We Want To Get It Done”

Boston Bruins President Cam Neely spoke to NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty Thursday and Neely admitted that the Bruins are prepared for a potential holdout from both of their restricted free agent defensemen Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy, their highest-profile free agents at this time. Another contract that must get taken care of? Few have discussed it, but head coach Bruce Cassidy needs an extension on his contract that expires after the 2019-20 season

Cam Neely told Haggerty “We want to get it done” when asked about Cassidy’s potential extension. “He’s important to our club, and like anything, we want to get him done just like we want to get Charlie and Brandon done.”

The good news is, unlike the McAvoy and Carlo negotiations, the Bruins don’t expect a long and drawn-out process with their head coach. “I don’t anticipate us having any problems with Butch. I feel comfortable that he’ll be ready for training camp.” Cassidy underwent surgery earlier this summer, fixing a knee issue.

Cassidy famously took over the Bruins just hours before the New England Patriots Super Bowl parade in February, 2017. The move was met was criticism as he was replacing Claude Julien who was the coach of the Bruins since the 2007-08 season and won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2011. Cassidy, however, has performed exceptionally well since then making the playoffs three straight seasons. He’s made the most of his second chance, guiding the Bruins to 117 regular season wins in parts of three seasons. In both of his full seasons, Cassidy has led Boston to 100 point seasons and at least one playoff round victory, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. He’s made the playoffs in each of the three seasons he has coached the club.

Cassidy served as head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins from 2011-2016. Prior to that, he was an assistant in Providence for three seasons. He joined the Bruins staff in the fall of 2016 as an assistant coach.