After another loss last night, this time a 1-0 shutout to the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien found himself answering more questions about his job security. After a gut wrenching loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday night that saw the B’s squander a 4-1 lead, Julien called the latest inquiries on his job “shock journalism.” Here’s what some journalists have been saying after what CTV and TSN’s Brian Wilde tweeted to be a “ridiculous comment” from Julien.
- The Boston Herald’s Stephen Harris writes that time is running out on a decision with Julien. It’s mistakes, after stretches of dominating play, that seems to undermine the good the Bruins are achieving on the ice.
- Yahoo’s Jen Neale comments on the Julien “shock journalism” answer, writing that the hockey world has been looking for the final nail in the coffin moment when it comes to Julien’s time in Boston. She adds that after his refusal to give an answer to the question, he left the media scrum.
- ESPN’s Joe McDonald writes that Julien is not going anywhere. He includes video of post-game interviews and also tweets that “no changes are imminent” when it comes to Julien’s job status.
- TSN’s Travis Yost believes the Bruins would be best served by holding onto Julien. While he believes that Julien’s time is in fact “running out” in Boston, he feels that allowing him to twist in the wind is the wrong move for both Julien and the organization. Yost argues that simply firing the coach is an action, not a plan. Further, he wonders if Julien is really the problem in the first place. Could it be a failure by the front office to supply him with the right players?
I agree with Yost. Julien is not the problem.
Front office is the problem. Krejci not the worth contract, half the regular season he can hardly be found, really only shows up in the playoffs. Hamiliton and Lucic trades were knee jerk and backfired. Smith for Hayes was a complete rip off for Florida. With their offense the way it was coming into the year why didn’t they go for Gagne/Grabner/Pirri reclamation type deal, they had nothing to lose and plenty of cap for that kind of contract. Grabner/Krejci/Belesky would have been a nice line, speed, playmaker, and hard nosed grinder that can score.
Smith for Hayes was to get Savard’s contract off the books which was much needed and Smith was not very good the season before he was traded. The Lucic and Hamilton deals can’t be evaluated til the players drafted with the picks obtained prove their worth. Everyone screamed when Boychuk was dealt for cap purposes because they got nothing for him. Nothing turned out to be Brandon Carlo and another very good D prospect in Ryan Lindgren. You didn’t mention the really bad one….Seguin. Or some questionable drafting. The front office has certainly made mistakes. But hindsight is 20/20 and it’s not like fantasy leagues it’s a business where moves made have to take in far more factors than most fans understand. Fans are quick to place blame and overreact and be unrealistic in their expectations because of their passion for the team they root for.
It doesn’t help that Haggs asked the question. Nobody likes Haggs, and the guy has been calling for Julien’s head for forever now.
And with Jen Neal all up in arms about Julien not answering the question, I’d be interested to how she’d answer that question if it was her job.