Claude Julien Ties Art Ross For Coaching Record

The Boston Bruins beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 this evening at the TD Garden. While it was a decent night of hockey for the Bruins players, it was a better evening for their coach. With tonight’s win Claude Julien is now tied with Art Ross with 387 career victories, the most wins ever attained by a head coach for the Boston Bruins.

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“The thing that comes to mind is humbling. It really is humbling because this guy here – I said that before [Art Ross] is an icon, he’s a legend. I don’t have a trophy named after me,” said Claude Julien after the game. “Those are all things that there’s a big difference between Art Ross and myself, and the fact that I’ve avoided being fired for the last nine years helps get that many wins here. So, I just feel fortunate and most of all obviously humbled by that achievement.”

It’s taken nine seasons to get to this milestone. In the process, Julien was at the helm for eight playoff seasons, two Stanley Cup appearances, and bringing the Cup back to Boston in 2011. Many of the Bruins core players have known no other NHL coach than Julien. While the fans have loved and loathed him, he helped put Boston back on the map in the hockey world. Not bad for a guy who only played only one NHL game in his career.

While Claude is honored and humbled, his players are very happy for him.

“It’s definitely a great honor, I’m sure, for him. He’s one of those guys that always puts the team first, but it’s well-deserved,” said Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron has played nine seasons with Claude, and their working relationship can be considered to an outstanding example of the synergy between player and coach. “He’s an amazing coach. I’ve been very fortunate to be under him for a lot of years, and learning, and he’s been very successful…so well deserved.

“It’s one of those things where you can get caught up in this league – especially as a coach – and you need to have the players on your side, obviously, and [have] them wanting to play for you. I think he’s done a tremendous job of that. I think everyone wants to go on the ice and leave everything out there for Claude, and it’s all in his honor. It’s one of those things where he does the right things and he says the right things at all times, and it makes us better players and people.”

It almost seemed appropriate that Claude Julien hit this milestone tonight. He beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions. He did it in front of the fans. He also proved to most hockey fans that the Black and Gold could in fact be competitive against the very best teams in the NHL.

Now it’s on to Saturday where the Bruins will try to help Julien become the sole owner of the record. It would be great to see the B’s make that happen while beating Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby and the rest of the Washington Capitals.

Don’t worry coach. The way things are headed there will be a Claude Julien award coming down the pipe in the near future.

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