Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs throws support behind Came Neely and Don Sweeney

While GM Don Sweeney may have angered some fans with his trade of captain Brad Marchand, team CEO Charlie Jacobs threw his support behind his hockey operations and the retool/rebuild that Sweeney initiated on Friday with the trades of Marchand, Charlie Coyle and Brandon Carlo.

In a statement released on social media, Jacobs said that while the Bruins “made our best efforts to keep Brad in black and gold for the rest of his playing career,” he wished Marchand the best of luck in Florida.

Then he reiterated the full support for team president Cam Neely and Sweeney he voiced mid-season at the Black and Gold Gala, as well as the direction the club is taking.

“Cam, Don and the hockey operations team have my full support as they make these very difficult decisions, which we collectively believe will set our franchise up for a new era of success in the future,” said Jacobs in the statement. “Our goal remains unchanged: to be a Stanley Cup Championship-drive organization. Together, we are charting a course for the next century.”

How much patience ownership has for this direction remains to be seen. Coinciding with the team’s unexpected swoon, ticket prices have gone up 4% for next season. We’ll see if the occasional patches of empty seats at the Garden we’ve now been seeing grow as the club tries to regain its footing.

Meanwhile, n the same release, both Neely and Sweeney wrote glowingly about their former captain.

“Brad wore the Black and Gold with a tremendous amount of pride for 16 years. He embodied what it means to be a Bruin,” said Neely.

Added Sweeney: “Being underestimated was all the motivation Brad needed to work harder than anyone to earn a chance to grow from bottom-six agitator to NHL superstar. Then he evolved into a true leader, a captain, an example for all of those who aspired to wear the spoked-B to show them what it takes to compete and win at the highest level and, even more, to do so for the Boston Bruins.”