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Boston Bruins: Claude Julien Finally Fired, Bruce Cassidy Named Interim

By Logan Jakubajtys

Dec 15, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at TD Garden. The Anaheim Ducks won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at TD Garden. The Anaheim Ducks won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Bruins have fired Head Coach Claude Julien today, as the team lingers in the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference.

According to NHL.com, the Boston Bruins have relieved Claude Julien of all coaching duties, ending his 10 year run with the team. Assistant Coach Bruce Cassidy has been named the Interim Head Coach for the team.

Boston has struggled this season with a 26-23-6 record. Julien did however lead the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup Championship, while also guiding them to the final in 2013. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, and should have no problem finding a job elsewhere. The Bruins may already have a candidate in mind, as Cassidy does not seem ready to assume Head Coach duties long term.

Who’s next?

Gerard Gallant, Ken Hitchcock, and Nate Leaman are among the favorites to be the next Head Coach of the Boston Bruins. Gallant was fired from the same position with the Florida Panthers this season. He posted an 11-10-1 record to begin the year and was fired by new Florida GM Tome Rowe in November.

Gallant had successfully built the Panthers program, from a laughing stock to a favorite in the Eastern Conference just last season. Gallant should be among the first coaches interviewed by Boston to replace Julien.

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Ken Hitchcock is another coach that was fired this season. The St. Louis Blues let Hitchcock go on February 1st. The Blues had stumbled to a 24-21-5 record in the Central Division. Hitchcock has been an NHL Head Coach since 1995, as he’s coached for the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues. Hitchcock, 65, said last May that the 2016-17 season would be his last and that he planned to retire.

The Boston Bruins will need to talk him out of the retirement mind frame to land him as their Head Coach.

The last of the likely favorites is Nate Leaman. A younger option at just 44, Leaman has no NHL coaching experience. He has been the Head Coach for the Providence Friars for the past six seasons, and he earned an NCAA Championship in 2014-15. Leaman also previously coached at Union College.

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Lehman would not be a big name, or make a big splash, but he would offer the Bruins a truly new beginning and a chance to rebuild to the lofty standards of management and the fans.

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