Jamie Langenbrunner’s savvy hockey mind makes him ideally suited to player development with Bruins

It’s rare in a post-playing career see a player end up with a team he never played a game for. For Jamie Langenbrunner, that’s exactly what happened.

After playing 1,109 games and accumulating 663 points over a 17 year career with the Dallas Stars (two stints), New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, Langenbrunner ended his career after being unable to get a deal. At 38 years old, moving his family with no set contract did not seem appetizing on a professional try out. After taking a year off following retirement altogether, an old friend, Jay Pandolfo, presented an opportunity for getting Langenbrunner’s foot in the door with a team he had never played for: the Boston Bruins. Pandolfo, a former player for the Bruins and teammate of Langebrunner with the Devils, was already involved in Boston’s player development department.

“I met with general manager Don Sweeney that summer (2015) and it seemed like a good fit,” Langenbrunner told Daily Faceoff. “Working with Jay in a development role, getting a feel for post playing career opportunities, being involved on the coaching side and management as well, you get a big picture of that and see what direction you’re pulled in. I enjoyed the management side more than the coaching. Flexibility to be with the family was a big factor.

“I was hired right before the season started in August 2015 and was involved part time the first year. The next year, Pandolfo moved behind the bench for the Bruins and I took over his role as head of player development.”

Langenbrunner’s responsibilities in his initial role entailed tracking the team’s prospects, spending time in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, evaluating players’ attributes and supporting the prospects in off-ice roles. As a former player and captain, Langenbrunner was able to use his past experiences to help bring the younger players along.

Eventually, more responsibilities were added to Langenbrunner’s plate, including player personnel decisions, eventually moving into the assistant GM role four years ago.

“It was kind of a natural progression of learning and continuing to move forward,” said Langenbrunner. “Earning trust from my bosses (Don and president Cam Neeley) and my co-workers.

“It was a chance to have more of a chance to help our team have a chance to be competitive.”

In his current role as AGM, Langenbrunner’s primary responsibilities are evaluating players, targeting areas of the Bruins’ lineup that can be improved, identification of players at both the amateur and pro levels, consulting with their development staff on the progression of their prospects and targeting players in the AHL who could find a role on the Bruins. Also helping out on the amateur side and preparing for the draft, Langenbrunner will give his input on up and coming prospects. With years inside the Bruins organization, Langenbrunner casts a wide net in the ways he contributes to aiding the front office.

Having the chance to go in any direction in his post playing career, the choice of management has certainly paid dividends for Langenbrunner. The flexibility of being in management compared to coaching was a driving factor in Langebrunner’s desire to enter management, but it goes well beyond that.

“The uniqueness of it (intrigued me),” Langenbrunner saix. “Coaching, to a degree, you’re in it every day (like a player). I was drawn to the bigger picture of what management is. Being a player who didn’t like video, doing that on the coaching side didn’t appeal to me very much.

“I have a lot of patience and like looking at the long term plan; it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

As a former captain with the Devils during his playing career, being a leader is something that is synonymous with Langenbrunner as a player. When in management, being able to blaze a trail is something that, one may assume, would be viewed as an asset. For Langenbrunner, being a former captain has helped him in his ascent up the ladder in the Bruins organization.

“As a captain, you’re dealing with different issues; you’re learning which issues need attention, which ones need to be addressed with the whole group, which ones where you need to be a sound board for somebody,” Langenbrunner said. “I think those things are helpful. I got great advice from Joe Nieuwendyk when he told me, ‘You don’t change who you are’ (when you become captain).

“That’s the mentality I have when going about being a leader.”

Having never played for an Original Six team, moving into the front office of the Bruins was foreign waters for Langenbrunner. Admitting it was different from being with any other team, he felt the importance when watching the Bruins play at home or away – especially if they played another Original Six club. The support and the passion of the fans is something Langenbrunner has relished in Boston.

Being a part of the Bruins means working under Neely, a Bruins legend and a staple of the front office.

“Cam is fantastic,” Langenbrunner said. “He’s very involved in all aspects. Watching the way he leads – it’s a quiet example. He pushes for answers and with good reason; I don’t ever see judgment (from Neely). He’s genuinely trying to understand where someone is coming from on any given particular topic or decision.

“He pushes us to work and lead by example, and Don Sweeney is a continuation of that.”

Although this season has been a struggle, the Bruins have been a model of consistency. For Langenbrunner, despite it being a buzzword, “culture” is a big factor. The mentality that was instilled by past players like Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara has been passed down to the modern leaders like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Consistency on a daily basis, both in practice and in games, has given the Bruins a yearly result of what hard work can do for an organization. Playing the right away, doing the little things like blocking a shot or making a timely change, are all things that have contributed to the Bruins’ consistency.

Flying so under the radar the last near-decade in the Bruins’ front office, one has to wonder if an elevated role is in the cards for Langenbrunner someday down the line.

“”Maybe, but it’s not something I really think about too much,” Langenbrunner said. “I’m taking it a day at a time. It’s not something I necessarily aspire to; I feel fortunate to be involved (in the role I’m in right now).

“If it were to come up at some point I’d look at it and see if it made sense for me and my family, but it’s not something I”m chasing – I’m very happy right now.”

After close to a decade working his way up the Bruins organization, Langenbrunner is quietly making traction as one of the hardest working executives there is. Under the guidance of Neely and Sweeney, Langenbrunner’s rise up the ranks is one that has come with teaching and hard working in a storied franchise. From the consistency of the organization to the culture of its players, Langenbrunner is certainly emerging as a product of his environment.
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Jamie Langenbrunner’s savvy hockey mind makes him ideally suited to player development with Bruins

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