Bruins fire Claude Julien
- Thread starter Rico Guapo
- Start date
It no longer terrifies me, they fuck up this trade deadline and I'm taking a break from this ownership/leadership and will go root for the CBJ for a while.
They think the fans are fucking idiots. We can see right through them. He's talking out of both sides of his mouth and it's annoying. On one hand we want to incorporate young players and they will make mistakes, but we also think we're a playoff team, but not a contender? Are you kidding me?
Claude was in a no-win situation here. He had the TALL task of incorporating the young players and dealing with all of the mistakes, but the mandate to make the playoffs. Given those expectations, I think Claude did a fantastic fucking job.
I'm really tired of this ownership. I think a lot of what has been said about them over the years has been overblown, but given the other ownership groups in town, this one really stands out at the black sheep.
Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox all experienced a rebirth after changing ownership and cleaning house. 2011 didn't magically fix the deep issues with this organization and the goodwill is long spent.
Sorry guys - this just isn't true. Krejci is significantly underperforming, with a brutal contract.
Mazz now harping on some idea that Krug and his contract suck. And click.
So between Cam and Don, the front office has still yet to really offer a reason as to why they fired Clode. Seems like they did it just for the sake of doing it.
So between Cam and Don, the front office has still yet to really offer a reason as to why they fired Clode. Seems like they did it just for the sake of doing it.
Exactly. I'm just ready to move on from this tired act. This bullshit has been going on for 40 years.
Okay, TFP got it. Still. Bergeron is one of the 20-30 best players in the world, he would elevate anyone he played with. Partnering him with Marchand creates a true number one line regardless of who's riding with them. And he plays against the other teams best line 82 nights a year.
46 is a perennial underachiever who seems incapable of elevating anyone's game and has a horrible contract. He's been sporadic his whole career and hasn't looked the same since Looch left. Zero comparison.
Edit: I wont be surprised if Krejci's production increases somewhat now with Pasta with him and Cassidy's more "uptempo" style. Bet he still gets shredded in the Dzone though.
You'll get no disagreement with me that Krejci has a bad contract.
I'm more isolating his production, or lack thereof, to this season. He was fine last season playing mostly with Eriksson and Pastrnak. 63 points in 73 games, 2.12 points per 60, which is a tad low based on his career, but still pretty good production and in line with a 2C. 14/15 he was in and out of the lineup with injuries.
This season his primary wingers have been Ryan Spooner and David Backes. I think that's a pretty significant talent downgrade. We all know what Spooner's deficiencies are. Backes isn't Eriksson. Outside of about 2 years, Backes' production has been that of a 3rd liner over his career. He's useful in certain areas, but I've said it before, I don't think the best usage of Backes is as a top 6 wing. Add in that both of these players are playing wing for the first time in their career and my opinion is the team hasn't given Krejci the best tools to work with. Part of that is on the organization, they don't really have many other options. We'll see how things go under Cassidy now. He gets Beleskey and Pastrnak now. Krejci's best years were with Lucic and Horton. Beleskey is a Lucic-like player and Pastrnak is obviously a talented winger.
This is the only positive I took out of the whole interview. Love Claude as much as anyone, but if you're rebuilding, you need to let younger players play and make mistakes
I fully agree, I'm a Krejci supporter and his playoff impact speaks for itself. I like the new 2nd line with him, Pasta and Belesky.
I'm trying to think of a young player that Claude kept on the bench or on 9 this year. He scratched Colin Miller for a couple of games early in the year, but other than that, I'm drawing a blank. When they've been at full health, the usual scratches are JM Liles (veteran), Joe Morrow (young player), and then Jimmy Hayes (veteran) up front. Czarnik was sat for a few games recently, but he seems to have hit a wall.
They're scratching Cehlarik tonight which is amusing coming 2 hours after Neely's comments.
I've been outspoken on my dislike of Julien over the years, but I think this is all pretty spot on. What on earth was Julien supposed to do with these completely contradictory demands? "It's ok to lose with youth, but if you do we'll fire you." I haven't been able to watch many games this year (bad luck locating consisten streams) but when I look at the roster and the results, I lay the blame squarely on Sweeney/Neely.
I've criticized Julien harshly for running goalies into the ground in the past. But again, what's he to do? The backups have been beyond brutal this season, and with that "win now" mandate, why wouldn't he keep trotting Tuukka out there?
Julien was put in an unwinnable situation. And suprise, he didn't win. Don't blame him for that. Blame the people that put him there.
I've always defended Claude's development of young players and even this year have mostly stood by that. But as many others have said, he was in an impossible situation, playing for his job and being pressured to develop young players. Colin Miller this year is inexcusable to me, he's their third best defenseman and has been jerked in and out of the lineup.
Most of my qualms are less about who he's playing and more about how he's playing them. I don't think Carlo has been put in an ideal situation to develop. As good as he's been, he's played extremely conservatively with the puck, seemingly terrified to make mistakes. In the short term that's great and what's most valuable to the team. He's already a good stay at home defenseman. But it's not how he's going to reach his ceiling. He should be skating with the puck and trying to make positive passes out of the zone, and he should be making mistakes. Not firing the puck up the boards whenever there's not an obvious and simple break out. Even if it's not what's ideal for winning games right now.
The goalie situation I don't know who to blame. Riding Tuukka into the ground when you have two good goalie prospects in the AHL is not ideal. Having such a short leash with young goalies is infuriating, it's a psychological position and evaluating it needs a much larger sample size than what they've been given.
Claude Julien appointed head coach of the flipping Montreal Canadiens:
https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/claude-julien-appointed-head-coach-of-the-montreal-canadiens/c-286754858
https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/claude-julien-appointed-head-coach-of-the-montreal-canadiens/c-286754858
This doesn't surprise me at all. I don't blame him. Solid roster and a great way to stick it to the Bruins and management multiple times a year.
I mean at least Jacobs doesn't have to pay him now. So that's good...right Cam?
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Why would Claude do that? This is as much an FU to the Bruins as it is a good opportunity.
Outside of Jagr their core is young and talented, but has underachieved b/c the GM is coaching the team. I think on paper anyway they have far more upside than the Habs do.
He would also stay in the same division and get to play Boston 6x a year.
He would also stay in the same division and get to play Boston 6x a year.
Comparing Montreal to Florida is laughable though. He wins a cup with Montreal, he goes to the HOF immediately.
I went to the B's game last Thursday, and sat with a friend that has seen NHL games in roughly half the arenas in the NHL. If you remember, that was the first game for Cassidy, AND a massive snowstorm that had the B's offer exchanges for tickets. My friend's comment was: "This looks like a Florida Panthers game, except I can't pay $20 to sit behind the benches". That's why Claude isn't in Florida. They have no support and until they do, they won't content for any extended stretch.
Montreal has a fanbase, supportive (if not demanding) management, and enthusiasm. Florida doesn't.
Montreal has a fanbase, supportive (if not demanding) management, and enthusiasm. Florida doesn't.
So we're 5 games, and now a loss into the Cassidy era...some observations....
52.2% CF. Lower than their season average up to this point, but still an elite possession team. They also have faced tough competition. 4/5 games against playoff teams.
The players with the biggest boost have been Backes (1-5=6), Krejci (1-5=6) and Vatrano (3-3=6). The biggest change with Backes was simply putting him with 37 and 63. That seems to have had the desired effect, and Krejci has played well with Pastrnak and Cehlarik. Ryan Spooner is 1-2=3 in the 5 games, back at C. That line seems to be holding their own and creating chances.
On the flip side, our $3.8 million dollar man, Matt Beleskey has worked his way into the dog house. Scratched in 2 of 5 and his minutes down to ~11 a night. I'm not sure what to do with him, he hasn't looked good at all this season.
Overall, to my eye, they're playing a bit looser and more aggressively. Leads to higher quality chances for, but also against. Tactically, and this could be a nit pick, but in hindsight Cassidy probably goofed last night when he had a mish mashed line of Spooner / Moore / Nash on the ice for the GWG against. He benched Cehlarik and the resulting juggling left with this trio on the ice against the Rakell / Perry line.
52.2% CF. Lower than their season average up to this point, but still an elite possession team. They also have faced tough competition. 4/5 games against playoff teams.
The players with the biggest boost have been Backes (1-5=6), Krejci (1-5=6) and Vatrano (3-3=6). The biggest change with Backes was simply putting him with 37 and 63. That seems to have had the desired effect, and Krejci has played well with Pastrnak and Cehlarik. Ryan Spooner is 1-2=3 in the 5 games, back at C. That line seems to be holding their own and creating chances.
On the flip side, our $3.8 million dollar man, Matt Beleskey has worked his way into the dog house. Scratched in 2 of 5 and his minutes down to ~11 a night. I'm not sure what to do with him, he hasn't looked good at all this season.
Overall, to my eye, they're playing a bit looser and more aggressively. Leads to higher quality chances for, but also against. Tactically, and this could be a nit pick, but in hindsight Cassidy probably goofed last night when he had a mish mashed line of Spooner / Moore / Nash on the ice for the GWG against. He benched Cehlarik and the resulting juggling left with this trio on the ice against the Rakell / Perry line.
So some of the players are starting to speak candidly about Julien's firing. Spooner said he didn't think Julien liked him and now Vatrano says he didn't have a great relationship with Julien.
Not sure what to make of this. I think most would agree that Spooner and Julien were never a match made in heaven here. Vatrano's comments were a bit more head scratching. Additionally, Vatrano and Spooner have both had their ice time cut under Cassidy. Vatrano is about 2 min TOI per game less. So it's not really an ice time thing.
Anyways, I know the perception is that Claude hates kids. It was never true from an on-ice hockey standpoint, but here we have 2 young players saying they didn't have great relationships with Julien which I find interesting.
Not sure what to make of this. I think most would agree that Spooner and Julien were never a match made in heaven here. Vatrano's comments were a bit more head scratching. Additionally, Vatrano and Spooner have both had their ice time cut under Cassidy. Vatrano is about 2 min TOI per game less. So it's not really an ice time thing.
Anyways, I know the perception is that Claude hates kids. It was never true from an on-ice hockey standpoint, but here we have 2 young players saying they didn't have great relationships with Julien which I find interesting.
True or not I wish Spooner and Vatrano would keep their mouths shut. If they had a poor relationship with Claude, let their on-ice play show it. Speaking out like this only makes them look petty.
Yes - but it may also be them justifying why they feel their play was poor under Julien, setting themselves up for when they're negotiating their next contract.
I heard that interview and Vatrano was very polite about Claude, saying he didn't have any issues with him and didn't think Julian didn't like to play the kids, It wasn't until T&R kept going at him with lines like "well Spooner said he didn't like young players" and similar lines that Vatrano sort of agreed with them.
I'm solely going off the tweet(and LR's summary), and more context would be helpful if it exists. I think this is completely appropriate to say. He wasn't throwing out reasons, or making a huge deal of it, he was just acknowledging that he and Claude did not work well together.
I'm in the process of leaving my current job for a new one (last day is tomorrow). If I started publicly talking about all the reasons I'm leaving and the good things I'm getting at the new place, that would be incredibly unprofessional. But saying "My new employer offered a better opportunity in a better environment, so I left my old one" is totally appropriate in explaining why I'm moving to a new job. I see Vatrano meaning something to the tune of "I feel my relationship with my current coach is better than my relationship with my last one".
Edit: I can english good.
Yeah, Fred really did badger him quite a bit, so I didn't get the impression he disliked Claude. Once pressured, he basically said Cassidy was giving him opportunities more within his skill set, as he did in the AHL, but that Claude was a great coach who he liked.
Hab fans are everywhere m out here. Ironically many of them are the extremely racist, intolerant "speak English!!!" type. Anyway, the fan narrative is if they had Clode as coach PK would still be there and be the best player in the NHL.