Reaction to Claude Julien’s Firing by the Boston Bruins

Claude Julien, who coached the Boston Bruins for 10 outstanding seasons, was fired on February 7th, days after a 6-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Julien has led the team to a 26-23-6 record throughout 55 games this season, with only 55 points, that puts them one point out of the wild card, which doesn’t look so bad until you realize they’ve played the most games against teams in the Eastern Conference than any other team in the league.

Julien was the longest tenured active head coach in the NHL, and is Boston’s all time coaching wins leader with 419 career victories, holding a record of 419-246-94. He coached the B’s to a Stanley Cup victory in 2011 and another trip to the finals in 2013, as well as the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014 for having the most points in the NHL. Julien won the Jack Adams Award in 2009 for being coach of the year.

The fact of the matter is, the problem wasn’t Claude, the problem continues to be the front office. Claude isn’t the one who let the blue line slip into one of the saddest defenses in the NHL. He didn’t let this team turn into a one line team. The front office did, and they’re the ones asking him to change his coaching styles in hopes of scoring more goals when he only has two players who can put up more than 15 goals.

Claude has and always will be a defensive style coach, and Sweeney has not been able to help out his head coach at all by bringing in the pieces to aid Julien. Over last offseason the number one thing they needed in Free Agency was, a top 2 defensemen. Instead they went out and got David Backes. Now David Backes is a great player and I like him in a Bruins sweater, but look at our defense, Backes can’t help us there. Sweeney is the problem, he hasn’t done anything to help this team grow. Ever since the Seguin trade from Peter Chiarelli, it feels like Boston has been afraid to make a big trade.  Hopefully by the trade deadline we will see something done to push this team to the playoffs.

Claude Julien said via an email released after numerous requests for interviews, “I would like first and foremost to thank the Bruins organization for allowing my family and I the privilege of spending 10 unforgettable years in Boston. We were proud to call this great city home for so long and will dearly miss it, From the game day security crew to the volunteers that I was fortunate enough to meet throughout the years, I thank you as well.  I certainly cannot sign off without thanking the people that made this time here so rewarding — the Boston Bruins fans. Your devotion, unmistakable passion, energy and support is what makes Boston the best sports city in the entire world! In leaving this organization, what I’m most happy about and most proud of is being part of the team that brought the Stanley Cup back to Boston for the first time in 39 years. Sharing that journey and the Stanley Cup celebrations with our players, families, staff and our fans produced so many incredible memories that I will never forget. To all that were part of it and helped along the way, I want to express a heartfelt ‘thank you.”

Julien has one year left on his contract and is due $3 million, based on other teams and how poorly some are doing i have a feeling he won’t be out of work long. The Islanders could use a new head coach this offseason as well as the Vegas Golden Knights. As a Boston fan I’m sad to see Julien go, he turned this organization around and Boston fans should always be grateful for it.

The Bruins have named Bruce Cassidy as the new head coach.  He has coached the Providence Bruins for five years and coached the Washington Capitals from 2002-04. His newest task is to get the Bruins into the playoffs, and he is going to need a lot of luck or he is going to need Sweeney to actually step up and make a trade to help their defense. Cassidy won his first game as a Bruins Head Coach against the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Hopefully this is a new trend the Bruins can pick up on for the rest of the season, regardless they still need another defender to help their team.

Written by Chase Barnhart