"Last time I checked," said the Bruins' assistant GM, "Claude [Julien] isn't going to play a guy just because he's a first-rounder instead of somebody who wasn't, who performed better."
In light of the monstrous expectations levied upon this year's No. 2 overall draft pick, Tyler Seguin, Sweeney preaches caution. Yes, Seguin is talented — anyone who is selected in the first round is — but the Bruins have the same exact expectations for him as they have for everyone else at this year's development camp.
Seguin, just like anyone else, has to earn his stripes, first-rounder or not.
"He's coming in here with his peers at this point in time," Sweeney said. "He's still in the learning process. Obviously, he's been on a bit of a whirlwind here, with the draft and all of the speculation leading up to the draft. He also understands we're very excited to have him as a part of our organization. The work is in front of him to make our hockey club."
Just because the Bruins aren't handing Seguin anything on a silver platter doesn't mean that they won't put their prize pony in the best possible position to succeed.
"He's obviously a great player," Sweeney said. "He's going to get on the ice and do the things that he does, and we're going to try to fill in the gaps around him to put him in the best position to take advantage."
Aside from Seguin, there are plenty of other quality players currently taking part in development camp at Ristuccia Arena. Any of them, just as easily as Seguin, could be the future of the Bruins. Any of them could have a great camp, impress the team brass, succeed in minicamp during the summer and end up with a locker at the TD Garden come October.
Plenty of guys currently wearing Black and Gold have done just that.
"Milan Lucic wasn't a first-round selection; David Krejci wasn't a first-round selection," Sweeney said. "And those guys have gone out and done [well] for our hockey club."
That is the blueprint laid out for this batch of talent: Come to camp, meet the other players, figure out what the team expects of them and make sure they know what kind of work is required in order to meet those expectations. Eventually, that work could evolve into a spot on the Boston roster.
"If you can play, you can play, and that's what each and every one of them should understand," Sweeney said. "Generally, you are drafted in the first round because you've earned that. But you don't earn the sweater just because you've been drafted there."
As eager as he may be to see what these kids can do, Sweeney was quick to stress one thing: Development camp is not a tryout. It's a learning experience.
"It's a place to make an impression, for everybody," he said. "You're not making our hockey club and playing for Claude this week. We've had players, as I've referenced, who have done that, but it's really about getting an understanding of what those coaches are going to require of them as players at the National Hockey League level."
Prospects like Joe Colborne and Jordan Caron are used to the drill by now. They've been through this grind before, and they're used to the intensive attention and speculation that accompanies it. Being a first-rounder is a blessing and a curse, and they understand that.
"I think that's human nature — I think everybody looks at first-round draft selections as heroes, whether it's warranted, or whether or not the buildup is there," Sweeney said. "I'm sure the kids put that same pressure on themselves, but it's a pretty level playing field once you're in training camp. You're there to make that hockey club."
In reality, most of these kids won't play at the TD Garden, at least not with the Bruins. Like in any other sport, some of the prospects will succeed, some will be traded, some will get injured and some won't pan out.
But using this week to their advantage is the first key in what Sweeney expects to be a long career for the lucky ones.
"In a perfect world, they're all going to wear a Bruins uniform," Sweeney said. "Is that reality? Probably not, which they should understand as well — how difficult it is to get to that level. But they all have a chance."
