Over the last two seasons, there has been a call for Boston Bruins’ Head Coach Claude Julien‘s head. Those calls got louder after Tuesday’s nights shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Claude Julien chose to sit Brad Marchand (the B’s best scorer) in a shootout over players like Torey Krug (who hasn’t scored in months) and David Pastrnak.
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There are a lot of people who are still in Claude Julien’s camp. He is the all time win leader among Boston coaches. He’s led the Boston Bruins to seven postseason appearances, two Stanley Cup Finals, and he coached the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011.
There are other reasons why Claude Julien shouldn’t be fired. He wasn’t responsible for the wholesale changes made by Peter Chiarelli. No more Tyler Seguin, Milan Lucic, or Dougie Hamilton. Being stuck with ugly contacts like the one Chris Kelly has. Taking on disappointing players like Brett Connolly or Zac Rinaldo. In some ways, Julien had no choice but to play the hand he was dealt.
What could get Julien fired? “Hindsight.”
That was the word Julien used when the press asked him about his choice of shooters against Carolina. Julien did offer a further explanation about how the B’s had a plan, and that that he was factoring in how Cam Ward and Tuukka Rask would react in certain conditions.
That hindsight led to the Bruins losing a critical point. Another game lost, this time to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are already booking their April tee times on the range. In the middle of March the Bruins were in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. They’re on the verge of their second straight late-season collapse. If the Bruins end up missing the playoffs again, Claude Julien’s number will very likely be up in Boston.
Next: Chris Kelly Back At Practice
I’ve been a member of the pro-Julien camp. For all the reasons listed above. He’s the first active NHL coach I got to ask questions to as a member of the media. He knew it was my first time around the barn, and was patient with me (even when I practically asked the same question as another media member before me). He’s great with the fans and the media. He’s well respected by his fellow NHL and Boston-area coaches.
The Boston Bruins front office adjusted some of their recent mistakes when they let Peter Chiarelli go. The B’s may have to seriously look at letting Julien go if they can’t pull off the win tomorrow night against the Red Wings.