Projo Bruins Blog

June 2007 Archives

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins announced this morning that Claude Julien is their new head coach.

The Bruins have a news conference scheduled at 10:30 this morning at TD Banknorth Garden to introduce Julien. He replaces Dave Lewis, who was relieved of his duties and reassigned within the organization last week.

Julien was fired as coach of the New Jersey Devils this year with three games left in their regular season. The Devils were 47-24-8 and in first place in the Atlantic Division in their first season under Julien, 47.

Julien also led the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2004 and was fired midway through the 2005-06 season with a 19-16-6 record.

The Bruins have had 16 coaches in the last 30 years, and none has served more than three seasons. Harry Sinden held the job twice on an interim basis. Lewis, a former assistant and head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, took over when general manager Peter Chiarelli, shortly after being hired, fired Mike Sullivan as coach last June.

Lewis led the Bruins to a 35-41-6 record in his only season. He was let go more than two months after they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

On Monday, Chiarelli said there was one clear favorite on his list of four candidates. A possible hitch developed earlier Monday when the Ottawa coaching job became available with the firing of general manager John Muckler and his replacement by coach Bryan Murray, who led the Senators to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Anaheim.

Asked if that might affect his hiring of a new coach, Chiarelli said, “That could be the case.” Julien lives in a suburb of Ottawa. Chiarelli was assistant general manager of the Senators before coming to the Bruins.

Chiarelli said Monday he wants a tougher team that will fight for pucks along the boards and a coach who will hold the players accountable if they don’t.

The Boston Bruins have called a news conference for 10:30 a.m. tomorrow to introduce their new coach.

Scott Gordon, the coach of the Providence Bruins and one of the people mentioned in association with the search, will not be at the press conference. All indications are that Claude Julien, the former coach of the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils, will get the job.

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Bruins have narrowed their search for a new coach to four candidates and hope to make a final decision by Friday, general manager Peter Chiarelli said Monday.

The Bruins removed Dave Lewis as head coach Friday after just one season, though he will be reassigned to another position within the organization. Lewis was 35-41-6 last season, when the team missed the playoffs.

Chiarelli said he wanted Lewis' replacement hired before Friday's NHL draft, but didn't know whether that would be possible. He declined to name the four candidates he was considering.

"I've spoken to them at length," Chiarelli said.

Chiarelli said he was focused on finding a coach who would make his players accountable for their play.

The Bruins went 1-10-1 in their last 12 games last season and allowed 289 goals - second most in the league. Boston also was short on offense with 217 goals, seventh fewest in the league.