Boston Bruins: The Hidden Plan To Fire Claude Julien
The Boston Bruins have failed to make the postseason for the last two years. Some Bruins fans put the blame on Bruins President Cam Neely. Others think the B’s most recent troubles are on the head of new general manager Don Sweeney. There is a growing part of the Black and Gold community that is placing the blame at the feet of their head coach, Claude Julien.
More from Bruins News
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins bringing back familiar forward on tryout contract
- The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
- NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
- The Lasting Legacy of David Krejci
Claude Julien has narrowly avoided the axe these last two seasons. Mainly because Julien has built up a lot of credit with the Jacobs family. He’s their all-time win leader for a head coach. He was the coach who gave them the Cup in 2011. But two failed seasons has burned up much of that goodwill.
Now, it looks like the Bruins may be putting together a contingency plan to remove Claude Julien if the season doesn’t go well.
Claude Julien’s biggest opportunity as a coach is to put faith in the team’s young blood. He doesn’t like doing it. When he actually has to give in and put a rookie player on the ice, they’re removed at the first sign of trouble or wrongdoing. (Look at the work Ryan Spooner had to do to finally get in Julien’s good graces.)
The Bruins have yet to make a deal with Loui Eriksson and Torey Krug. Free agency is coming up fast and the B’s won’t have much cap space if they sign them both. This means the B’s will have a roster half-full of young talent. Talent Claude Julien will be hesitant to use.
More from Causeway Crowd
- Harrison, Toporowski shine in Prospects Challenge
- Obscure former Boston Bruins: Steven Kampfer
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins release full “Historic 100” list ahead of season
- McAvoy, Lucic named to “Historic 100” list over the weekend
Cam and Don have seen the Julien playbook. They helped put parts of it together. They know Julien’s reticence, and it’s why they made coaching changes. They moved Jay Pandolfo over from player development to become an assistant coach. They promoted Bruce Cassidy from Providence to be the other new assistant.
Two new assistant coaches with experience in developing and using new players. One of them with a solid and extensive head coaching record. Put all the facts together and it looks like Cam Neely and company have a ready to order scapegoat if the Bruins have a rough start next season.
It would be a disappointing end to the Claude Julien era in Boston. It would also be a disappointing way for Cam Neely and Don Sweeney to deflect blame from their bad choices.