NHL Coaches: Potential Jobs at Risk

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Mar 21, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Boston Bruins head coach

Claude Julien

on his bench in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Claude Julien, Boston Bruins, Hired June 2007
information on his coaching career can be found here

BOS 07-08: 41 wins 94 pts Lost 1st round
BOS 08-09: 53 wins 116 pts Lost 2nd round
BOS 09-10: 39 wins 91 pts Lost 2nd round
BOS 10-11: 46 wins 103 pts Stanley Cup winner
BOS 11-12: 49 wins 102 pts Lost 1st round
BOS 12-13: 28 wins 62 pts (48gms) Lost Cup Final
BOS 13-14: 54 wins 117 pts Lost 2nd round
BOS 14-15: 41 wins 96 pts missed playoffs

There’s no doubt that Claude Julien has been one of the top coaches in the NHL for nearly a decade now. He initiated instant success when jumping aboard with the Boston Bruins, winning the Jack Adams award his second year behind the bench. His regular season success speaks for itself above.

We’re talking about a coach who’s accumulated 91 points and averaging over 40 wins a season. The Bruins have notoriously been known as a hard nosed tough team to play. It has helped them to make a couple deep runs in the playoffs.

His playoff resume isn’t as pretty, but it does have a Stanley Cup Championship. 5 of 7 playoff appearances ended with an early departure (not getting past the 2nd round). He did have a couple deep runs, one ending in a Stanley Cup victory. But Julien missed the playoffs for the first time with Boston this past season.

The Bruins success will determine the fate of this coach. GM Don Sweeney made some unusual moves to say the least this past offseason. I think most in the hockey world expect a digression. Replacing players like Dougie Hamilton and Milan Lucic will not be an easy task for a team that just missed the playoffs.

If things do start to go south, you’ll have to expect Claude Julien will be the first of many on their way out. It would probably go from the coach, to a dismantling of the veterans. If a rebuild or re-tooling is in store for the Bruins, then Sweeney might wanna hire his own bench boss. However, if the Bruins come out hot and appear to be on track to make the playoffs, then Julien’s job will be secure.

Whether or not the Bruins coach ends up on the hot seat early in the season, there’s no way he would on the unemployment line for too long. Any team that would need a coach would likely have Claude Julien at the top of their lists.

Next: Slow Start could sting in Columbus

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