Claude Julien Inks 3 Year Extension with Bruins
Oct 30, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien watches play from the bench during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Typically when one looks behind the bench during a Boston Bruins game, our eyes bare witness to the austere presence that head coach Claude Julien possesses in managing his team. However, if you were watching the game against the Senators last night, you might have noticed an extra pep in his step behind the bench.
Perhaps it’s because Julien was made aware of something prior to the start of last night’s game that made him feel an extra sense of happiness and fueled some of those lighter moments behind the bench last night. According to SI.com and bleacherreport.com, Claude Julien has signed a three year extension to remain head coach of the Boston Bruins through the 2020-2021 season.
Although the Bruins are remaining quiet on these initial reports and have yet to confirm them, general manager Peter Chiarelli and owner Jeremy Jacobs have been vocal in their support and backing of having Julien be the head coach for the foreseeable future. If the reports are true and Julien has been extended; the timing of which the contract expires is quite interesting. Julien’s new contract would expire at the same time some of core players such as Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask, and David Krejci.
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The Bruins franchise has gone from the basement of the league coming out of the 2004-2005 lockout and has emerged as one of the model franchises in the league over the last 5-6 years under the watchful eye of Julien. He has been able to instill a system predicated on defense, two way play, and most importantly one of the tightest knit locker rooms in the league.
“It’s been great,” Rask said. “Obviously, we’ve had success, and it didn’t take too long to get his system going, and it’s paid off over the years. If that’s the case, that he’s going to be here longer, it’s good for the Bruins.”
Besides winning the team’s first Stanley Cup in 39 years, Julien has yet to miss the playoffs in his over seven year tenure with the Bruins. At the rate Julien is going, he will most likely pass legendary Bruins coach Art Ross as the all time winningest coach in franchise history at some point during the 2015-2016 season.
That’s not to say Julien hasn’t coached under his fair share of criticism and scrutiny from both fans and hockey analysts. His stingy and obstinate approach leads to some people believing in game adjustments as well as lineup changes are something he struggles with. However, over the last 3-4 years of the Julien regime, we have seen him churn out a top 5 offense as well as a top 5 defense on a consistent basis.
Expect Julien to maintain his stoic and composed demeanor when the news becomes official that he has signed the extension, however seeing the smiles and glimpses of happiness last night provided insight into a man committed to this franchise and its continued success moving forward.