Photo credit: LaPresse.ca
Claude Julien says he wants to return to an NHL bench next season
It's been a little over three seasons since former Bruins and Canadiens head coach Claude Julien was fired from his position with Montreal and now, he says he's ready to return to the NHL.
On a recent edition of the Leafs Nation podcast, Julien said that he wants to get back into coaching in the NHL and that he needed a little bit of a break after being fired by the Montreal Canadiens."To be honest, I really felt like I needed a break after I left Montreal," Julien said. "You know, all these years coaching, from the junior to the NHL [level], I never had a full season [off]. I was never able to take a step back."
He added, "I'd be ready to give it another go under the right circumstances. No doubt. I feel energized again. When I watch some of the games and some of the teams, you sit back and say 'I think I've got the answer.'"
He added, "I'd be ready to give it another go under the right circumstances. No doubt. I feel energized again. When I watch some of the games and some of the teams, you sit back and say 'I think I've got the answer.'"
Julien, 63, was last behind a bench as a head coach at the 2022 Winter Olympics for Canada, leading them to a quarter-final finish where they lost 2-0 to Sweden.
The Blind River, Ontario native could have a few options to mull over this summer, but as of right now, the Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the NHL without a head coach. The Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators all have interim head coaches, but their status' for next season remains unclear. There's also the possibility that the San Jose Sharks make a coaching change, something General Manager Mike Grier says he's mulling over.
Julien's experience is something that will be very intriguing to teams, with 1,275 games behind the bench in the NHL with Montreal, New Jersey and Boston. His 667 wins currently have him 16th on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list and he has a Stanley Cup under his belt. There's no doubt that Julien will be back in the NHL next season, it's just a matter of who wants him the most.
Source - Daily Hive Offside: Ex-Canadiens coach Julien says he's "ready" for NHL return
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