from Matt Porter of the Boston Globe,

With all respect to Jeremy Jacobs, at the ownership helm since 1975; Patrice Bergeron, who was playing at or near the peak of his powers for most of the 2010s; and Zdeno Chara, who very well may be chugging along in No. 33 when we review the 2020s, there is one figure that represents the past decade in Bruins history.

Cam Neely was named team president on June 16, 2010, charged with making the hockey and business decisions that shaped the franchise. They included the May 2015 hire of a general manager, Don Sweeney, who hired a coach, Bruce Cassidy. Both internal promotions, and the right ones. Did Neely himself choose all 140 players who wore Black and Gold the past 10 years? No, but in the sense the hockey buck stops at his desk, he was responsible for every one.

Among his big business calls: He oversaw the move from Wilmington to Brighton, the back-to-the-city initiative that made the Bruins a more enticing franchise for outsiders, and helped the development of young talent.

The on-ice results are what matter most, and since the 2010-11 season only Pittsburgh and Washington have a better winning percentage (.633) than Boston, which has one Stanley Cup title and three Final appearances (tied for most). It’s hard to argue for anyone but Chicago as the flag-carrier for the 2010s. The Blackhawks were the only team to win three Cup titles (2010, ’13, ’15), though they haven’t made the playoffs in three years.

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