from Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald,

This is a team that, for understandable salary cap reasons, entered into a rebuilding phase years ago. Key, veteran players were allowed to leave, replaced by high draft choices and prospects. The scouting staff and management appear to have done a good job with their draft picks, adding a long list of kids who should represent the next generation of players wearing the ‘B’.

But such a program is not about now, it’s about the future – about where the organization is two, three, even four years down the road. To be obsessed with making the playoffs this season is silly and counterproductive, which is why team owner Jeremy Jacobs’ remarks earlier this season – his expectation that the B’s would not only qualify for the playoffs, but make a deep run -- was so frivolous, misguided and harmful.

That aided the process not one bit. The whole point of a rebuild is to stay patient and wait – even it means taking a step back now to take two steps forward later.

Also misguided and harmful – downright nuts is more like it – is the prospect that coach Claude Julien could be fired, which seems to be the red-hot rumor du jour.

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