A Winning Habit
Fansided

Canadiens: Claude Julien, Kirk Muller, Relieved of Coaching Duties

By Scott Cowan

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 20: Claude Julien of the Montreal Canadiens looks on during the second period of the game against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 20: Claude Julien of the Montreal Canadiens looks on during the second period of the game against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Claude Julien’s second term as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, has officially ended.

The former Boston Bruins bench boss, and Stanley Cup Champion, was officially relieved of his duties on Wednesday, along with assistant coach Kirk Muller. This was Julien’s second stint as head coach of the Canadiens, the previous being from 2002-03 to 2005-06, after being promoted following a successful three-year stint with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

Despite leading Montreal to a playoff appearance in 2003-04, a slow start to the 2005-06 season ultimately saw Julien replaced by GM Bob Gainey, before former Canadiens Captain Guy Carbonneau assumed coaching duties come 2006-07. After his stint in Montreal, Julien built up a reputation for consistency and success, with eight straight playoffs appearances from 2006-07 to 2013-14 as coach of the Bruins and New Jersey Devils.

Julien had been the Canadiens head coach since 2016-17, taking the helm midway through the season after coach Michel Therrien was relieved of his duties. After a strong performance in last year’s 24-team playoff format, a 2-4-2 record over their last eight games has ultimately led to the end of another head coaching tenure in Montreal. Following a 5-4 OT loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, marked by another controversial no-goal call on a last second score from Brendan Gallagher, the Canadiens currently sit a 1-0-2 in their season series against the last place Senators.

Former Canadiens head coach Claude Julien and assistant coach Kirk Muller have been relieved of their duties as of Wednesday.

Muller, a member of the Canadiens last Stanley Cup team in 1992-93, was previously an assistant coach from 2006-07 to 2010-11, before being re-hired alongside Julien in 2016-17, following a stint as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. Former Halifax Mooseheads head coach and current assistant coach Dominique Ducharme has been named interim head coach, and Laval Rocket coach Joel Bouchard is another possible option to be named either assistant or head coach.

After having not met thus far this season, the Canadiens will begin a season series against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, and newly acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois. Montreal currently sits fourth in the North Division.

Home/Habs News