Boston Bruins: Claude Julien Will Return As Head Coach Next Season
Boston Bruins: Claude Julien Will Return As Head Coach Next Season As Announced At Press Conference
The Boston Bruins will be keeping Claude Julien as their head coach for the 2016-17 season. Don Sweeney and Claude Julien met with the media for their end-of-year press conference on Thursday and the first question that was asked was relating to Claude Julien and the head coaching position. Don Sweeney responded that Claude would “absolutely” be back as the coach, and he even gave his head coach a very strong vote of confidence after that by saying “I emphatically believe that Claude can take us through what has been a bumpy transition period. I have work to do.” Claude Julien was left waiting for weeks last season in regards to his job, and the Don Sweeney wasted no time this year by giving their coach his full vote of confidence.
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This marks the first time in the Jacob’s era in Boston that a coach will remain with the Bruins with the team after missing the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. The only coach in Bruins history to have that opportunity in the past was Milt Schimdt. Claude Julien referenced the fact that when he first joined the Bruins nine years ago, the team was in a similar situation. He also mentioned that he was hoping that he would be given the opportunity to take the team to the top again, and that he was grateful that he was being granted it. He also said “I love this city, I love our fans, and I love the organization.”
While Claude Julien is remaining with the Bruins franchise for at least one more season, assistance coach Doug Houda will not be returning with the team next year. Houda has been with the Bruins’ franchise as an assistance coach since 2006, and the team has ultimately decided that it’s time to move in another direction. Claude Julien had this to say about his now-former assistant coach “Doug Houda is a great coach. Doug Houda will coach again in this league. The players loved him.” He also said “We’re discussing here as a management group about moving forward and bringing people in that can help certain elements of our game.”
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Doug Houda might not be the only assistant to not return next year with the Bruins as Don Sweeney mentioned that the other assistants’ deals were up with the exception of Bob Essensa who currently serves as the Bruins goaltending coach. Don Sweeney made it clear that the onus is on him to fix the team by stating it’s “Not on anybody else to improve this roster. It’s on me.” He also said “This ownership is very supportive of what we need”. With a few questions answered, and dozens more still up in the air, it’s clear that this offseason will be a busy one for the Boston Bruins and their management team.