VANCOUVER — When it comes to the Bruins playing the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals, there is a buzz throughout the entire organization. From players, to coaches, right on up to management, the excitement for the B’s to reach the highest level is clear.

One guy to whom this series may be even more special is team president and former player Cam Neely, who hails from British Columbia and began his career with the Canucks before being traded to the Bruins in 1986.

“I got to Maple Ridge in 1976 and became a huge Canuck fan,” Neely recalled. “… Unfortunately it  didn’t  work  out  well  for  me here, and things worked well in Boston.

“I certainly kept tabs on what happened to the Canucks over the years, of course except when they played us. But  it’s  home,  Boston  is  home as well. It’s fun to see what the Canucks have been able to accomplish, especially this year. They’ve got a great team. It’s going to be a pretty interesting series.”

Though Neely could not hoist the Cup in his playing days, he hopes to do so as an executive, something he spoke to Tuesday.

“It would  be  by  far  the next best thing, there’s no question,” Neely said. ”Absolutely no question. I mean, when you’re a player, your goal is  to  make  the  NHL. Once you get into the league, you want to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, I didn’t  have a chance to do it in a uniform, but hopefully can do it in a suit.”

Neely admitted that despite years in press box with the B’s, he still hasn’t totally settled into watching a game without the intensity that comes with being on the ice, saying it’s “much harder than playing,” and that he is “still getting used to it.”

While winning the Cup as a player would have been the ultimate prize for Neely, at least he can watch his team now knowing he’s watching a good product.