No worries for Sweeney: Defenseman eyes future with B's
by Stephen Harris
Thursday, September 16, 1999
WILMINGTON - Fast-forward 11 or 12 months, and picture the carnage that could be the Bruins. Most of the club's key young players will have finished their current contracts; who knows how many might be absent from training camp, holding out for better deals?
Another Bruin who could be missing: defenseman Don Sweeney, who is playing the final year of a five-year contract and next summer will be a Group 3 (unrestricted) free agent.
Although Sweeney will be 34, he could still be a highly coveted commodity - a smart, quick and steady ``defensive'' defenseman.
``He's respected around the league because of his determination,'' said longtime foe and new teammate Dave Andreychuk. ``You could look at his size and think you were going to have an easy time with him, but you don't. He's always there. He's always on top of you. And he never makes mistakes.''
So the St. Paul's School and Harvard product, who will earn $1.2 million this year, might well command sizable offers on the free agent market. But to hear him talk, he has little interest in trying to strike it as rich as possible.
``I don't believe it will be a money issue, at all,'' said Sweeney. ``From their point of view, or mine? I'm certainly not going to speak for them, but from my point of view, I don't believe it will be.
``I've already made a bigger paycheck ($5.250 million over the five-year contract) than I ever dreamed I'd be making. Do I want to get a raise? Everybody does. I think I'm pretty comfortable with the (salary) range I'm in.''
The idea of shopping around the NHL holds little appeal for Sweeney, who last spring became a first-time father of twins Jarrod and Tyler.
``I could have a number of different responses: The grass isn't always greener,'' said Sweeney. ``Do I want to play a poker hand? But I haven't really looked at it. I'm not worried about it, either way. I'll deal with it when it comes.
``I love playing here. Would I play somewhere else? Of course. I love the game. But most of all, this is where I want to be. I hope I'll be afforded the opportunity to continue playing here. If I'm not, if the Bruins felt that I didn't have the skills to continue playing here, I'd have to go somewhere else.''
Sweeney is reluctant even to discuss his financial future, focusing only on preparing for the coming season.
``It's so early for me to start thinking about (free agency),'' he said. ``This is a team coming off . . . I wouldn't say a successful playoff, but we took a step in the right direction. So I'm just looking forward to the season. I haven't looked past Opening Night.''
Sweeney worked hard this summer, often with teammate Kyle McLaren, to be ready for camp.
``This is my 12th year,'' he said ``I never dreamed I'd even have a chance still to be in this position. The reason for still being in this position is respect, respect for the game. I don't take anything for granted.''
``These kids are bigger and stronger and faster. If you take anything for granted in this day and age . . with my size, if I lose speed, that would put me at a disadvantage beyond belief. I realize that. That's why I train with someone like Kyle. I want to be right in the upper tier of the testing and stuff. If you start to slip down, maybe it's time to take a good, hard look at yourself.''
