Bruins GM Chiarelli with a radio vote of confidence for Claude Julien
Julien/By S. Bradley
One day after Bruins President Cam Neely did not take an opportunity during a radio interview to give head coach Claude Julien a vote of confidence, general manager Peter Chiarelli declared his preference that Julien remain Boston’s bench for the rest of this season.
Chiarelli made his weekly appearance on the Toucher & Rich radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub this morning. He was asked if he could unequivocally say that Julien’s job is not in jeopardy:
“Yes. We all have to improve. I know Claude’s been fodder a little bit lately. … He’s a good coach. And we’re going to figure a way out of this. And you go through these bumps in the road throughout the year. We went through a long one last year. I don’t want to go through one like that again. We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to figure out why we’re flat; we’re going to figure out why we have slow starts.
“We’ve got a good staff here. It’s incumbent on the staff to figure it out. Consistent with what Cam said yesterday, we’re all accountable here. But I’m confident that our staff is going to figure it out and confident we’re going to play better.”
As far as Julien not being fired this season, Chiarelli said: “That’s my preference and that’s my recommendation. This is a collective thing that we do on these matters. But I have full confidence in Claude and the staff to figure it out.”
Bottom line: If it were solely up to Chiarelli, Julien would coach the Bruins until this season ends. But it’s not just up to the GM, so there’s always the chance a change is made should people above Chiarelli in the organization determine a different coach is necessary to get the Bruins where they want to go.
I think firing Julien today would be dumb. We are overreacting. He should be aware that it is possible, and crappy play into February will get him the ax, but not now.
Can we stop with the Gordon calls? Also, Mike Millbury? Seriously? Did you people begin watching hockey in 2002?
I’ve said it a million times and the way last season ended was further proof. This team lacks leadership, that points to a few of the players and also the coaching. The make up of the team is a big question mark, too many guys are just floating around without any evidence of intensity…krecji the other night..? a few shifts he looked totally disinterested, ditto Ryder and Horton has looked terrible. where is the agressiveness? the coaching? Julien does not have the pulse of the bench, thats been obvious for over a year.
That should read 121 goals in Col. Still 10 more than anyone in the West though.
I think Wheeler has played his best hockey since the Sturm trade. I know I’m always a Wheeler supporter on here, but he was certainly one of our best forwards vs Washington and Anaheim.
I’m still not convinced Claude has to go yet, but I think we all agree some measure of offensive strategy needs to be added to his system.
It’s been seen all around the league. A new brand of younger coaches who favour offense. Look no further than Sacco in Colorado (league leading 124 goals. 10 more than any other western team) or Boucher in Tampa.
Mike Milbury suggestions are hilarious way too old, way past his prime. Julien needs better players his current cast are too comfortable. Ryder and Wheeler think they’re in the clear now that Sturm is gone.
Julien, is a great defensive coach but I think it’s clear that he doesn’t have the ability to produce any offense in the system that he’s created. The power play is a joke and the transition game is nonexistant. The team has the tallent to dominate both ends of the ice but the system they are in is so conservative and boring that I honestly think the players have lost intrest. More of the same isn’t the answer. Julien either has to find a way to adapt or he should be gone. This team has hit a plateau and I don’t see that they can go any higher by simply sticking to the same system.
[...] today, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli gave Julien a vote of confidence during his weekly appearance on the Toucher & Rich radio [...]
weren’t cam and milbury part of the last b’s team to make the cup finals? just asking.
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I’m not convinced he’ll get that long … if the team continues to struggle I could see an All-Star break change. Some juggling of his staff might give him some breathing room too like you suggested. IE taking the PP away from Ward.
He’ll get the chance to adapt. I think this season and postseason (there is no reason why there shouldn’t be a postseason with the talent we have) will be his proving ground. I think that if we continue with a mediocre regular season and an exit in the first or second round of the playoffs, Cam will get a shiny new offensive coach for the team. Jarvis as an assistant coach already has a defensive-mind that should buffer the loss of Julien if it comes to that. I hope Julien finds an offensive coordinator or assistant coach who can help him in his weakness. That’s also adaptation, and I hope that’s what Julien does because I would love to see him here for a while longer.
“That’s my preference and that’s my recommendation” … Dave Lewis says hello.
Just PC saying what he’s supposed to say. Reads a lot like good cop, bad cop if you ask me. “I like you Claude, but Cam here … he’s not so sure”.
Obviously the ideal situation is to turn this around without having to fire anyone, but in order to do that, it seems like management wants to see a concerted effort from Claude to adapt … something he’s been incapable of in his tenure as an NHL coach.
Minus the fodder that is Julien, how awesome would it be to see Neely behind the bench. Not because he is a great coach, because of what he represents, what he brought to the table as a player! As a player his career was cut a bit short, so he has redemption on the mind!