Ty Anderson: Timing of Claude Julien firing is an ugly one

Nonsensical move. This organization is well on its way back to the land of irrelevance.

The way this was handled... what a bunch of cowards.

From a distance it's hard to believe this is the way Julien is shown the door. Pretty sure he's been good for Boston for a decade.
It's an original 6 and will attract coaches but this could be the start of some dark years?
Neely and Sweeney should know better

As I mentioned in another thread, they did Julien a favor by firing him. I can't imagine how frustrating it's been for him to watch this slow motion train wreck. He had such a great squad to coach and now what has happened to it?

Cassidy was brutal here in DC. Fighting with Jagr....Witt...drunk all the time. Hope he matured since then.

this could be the start of some dark years?

- jjonah

Thank you Claude, and best of luck! I'm sad to see him go. Claude did great things for the Bruins, and I will be forever thankful for 2011. However, the writing has been on the wall for some time now. As a coach of a perennial playoff contending team, you can't expect to keep your job when you miss the playoffs for two years straight (and probably this year as well). I was hoping that Sweeney would wait until the summer to make the change, but I think ownership pressured him to do it now in order to have a shot at making the playoffs.

After a loss a few weeks back, Claude stated that the Bruins just didn't have enough talent on the team to compete every game. That is where, I think, Claude and Sweeney did not see eye to eye. Claude wanted Sweeney to get his better players, but Sweeney thought that Claude just wasn't trying hard enough to inspire the players. But it's not Claude's fault that Sweeney signed the 32 year old Backes to a 5 year contract or Beleskey to a contract of similar length. Claude was forced to make do with what he had, which overall, isn't great.

Still, I am happy with Sweeney's comments about the future, about how the long term plan is to build the team around their prospects. It's nice to know that they probably won't trade Carlo/McAvoy/JFK/Senyshyn. The future is bright for the Bruins, but the present is bleak.

It's up to the players to produce on the ice. And it's up to Sweeney to fill the holes in the roster without giving up key pieces. Trade for an experienced backup goalie. Get more depth throughout the lineup. It's a long shot at this point to make the playoffs, but doing these things will at least give them a chance.

Thank you Claude, and best of luck! I'm sad to see him go. Claude did great things for the Bruins, and I will be forever thankful for 2011. However, the writing has been on the wall for some time now. As a coach of a perennial playoff contending team, you can't expect to keep your job when you miss the playoffs for two years straight (and probably this year as well). I was hoping that Sweeney would wait until the summer to make the change, but I think ownership pressured him to do it now in order to have a shot at making the playoffs.

After a loss a few weeks back, Claude stated that the Bruins just didn't have enough talent on the team to compete every game. That is where, I think, Claude and Sweeney did not see eye to eye. Claude wanted Sweeney to get his better players, but Sweeney thought that Claude just wasn't trying hard enough to inspire the players. But it's not Claude's fault that Sweeney signed the 32 year old Backes to a 5 year contract or Beleskey to a contract of similar length. Claude was forced to make do with what he had, which overall, isn't great.

Still, I am happy with Sweeney's comments about the future, about how the long term plan is to build the team around their prospects. It's nice to know that they probably won't trade Carlo/McAvoy/JFK/Senyshyn. The future is bright for the Bruins, but the present is bleak.

It's up to the players to produce on the ice. And it's up to Sweeney to fill the holes in the roster without giving up key pieces. Trade for an experienced backup goalie. Get more depth throughout the lineup. It's a long shot at this point to make the playoffs, but doing these things will at least give them a chance.
- ndamianos

How do you see Marchamd, Bergeron, Krejci,etc's performance level once Carlo/McAvoy,JFK, Senyshyn are regular producing Bruins? do you see a situation where those players grow older but remain in lesser roles or do you expect them to still be a part of the core in 3-4 years? or do you see a sell off of some or all of the mainstays in tne near future like they did with Lucic, before they move on like Loui Eriksson? Legitmquestion as Im'm sure my GM still has a boner for those guys.

Boston will survive this,maybe even recharge for the playoff push, but his message maybe got stale? And now it's on the players and bergy and Chara, Marchand will let the rest know!

How do you see Marchamd, Bergeron, Krejci,etc's performance level once Carlo/McAvoy,JFK, Senyshyn are regular producing Bruins? do you see a situation where those players grow older but remain in lesser roles or do you expect them to still be a part of the core in 3-4 years? or do you see a sell off of some or all of the mainstays in tne near future like they did with Lucic, before they move on like Loui Eriksson? Legitmquestion as Im'm sure my GM still has a boner for those guys.
- Larsson_fan

I believe Krejci could be sold, but think that Bergeron and Marchand will finish out their careers here, the game they play will keep them in their prime for another 5 years or so, and not be a steep decline. Krejci just seems to constantly be in the doghouse which I don't agree with, but can understand due to his contract.

Sweeney has played the standard "get out of jail free" card every GM gets....firing the coach. Problem is, there is a slew of VERY questionable to bad player evaluations that fall squarely on him and the other 2 jokers playing management in the Bruins tree fort. Moves done this insensitively make the hockey gods VERY angry. They are the least forgiving of the sports gods. Take it from this 50 year old Leaf fan. Dark days ahead for you indeed. Very dark.

This may be a stupid question, but want to make sure I make clear on the situation .. but with Cassidy being the interim coach and Sacco taking over defense, does that mean we won't see a new coach til the summer or just a stop gap and we could see a new one anytime?

This may be a stupid question, but want to make sure I make clear on the situation .. but with Cassidy being the interim coach and Sacco taking over defense, does that mean we won't see a new coach til the summer or just a stop gap and we could see a new one anytime?
- Videoj

I believe you are correct, They won't make any more moves until the off-season

Cassidy was brutal here in DC. Fighting with Jagr....Witt...drunk all the time. Hope he matured since then.
- Blackstrom2

well it was 15 years ago so...

Simply a dumb move.
But great for the rest of the teams that have to play the bruins.

Your management is a mess.

Simply a dumb move.
But great for the rest of the teams that have to play the bruins.

Your management is a mess.
- Fakepartofme

so how many playoff DNQ's in a row should a coach survive. he should been fired a month ago if not the start of the season.

I don't think it was so much moving on but the way it was done. On parade day, with the press conference during he parade. Seemed very cowardly.

But this seems to be how Cam Neely does business. Honestly, I would've liked to see him gone as well. In a perfect world you fire Neely, move Sweeney back into scouting and hire an outside voice. No former Bruins please.

so how many playoff DNQ's in a row should a coach survive. he should been fired a month ago if not the start of the season.
- Fountain-San

I agree. However the way went about it was gutless. More than Julien should be hanging for this.

I agree. However the way went about it was gutless. More than Julien should be hanging for this.
- glove_was_stuck

yep. coaches get fired and changes are made. fine. pro sports. but yeah press conference right after the parade started? weak.

and any leaf/toronto fans have questions about the parade we speak of, just ask.

I don't think it was so much moving on but the way it was done. On parade day, with the press conference during he parade. Seemed very cowardly.

But this seems to be how Cam Neely does business. Honestly, I would've liked to see him gone as well. In a perfect world you fire Neely, move Sweeney back into scouting and hire an outside voice. No former Bruins please.
- PoketheBear

also thought it was weak that Neely did not show up.

Honestly, he was fired after the Leafs loss. When did you want them to announce it? On the day Paul Pierce played his last game in Boston? During the Super Bowl? Day after the super bowl to take away from the Patriots win?

Bad timing but honestly does it really matter that the parade was the same day?

yep. coaches get fired and changes are made. fine. pro sports. but yeah press conference right after the parade started? weak.

and any leaf/toronto fans have questions about the parade we speak of, just ask.
- Fountain-San

He had to go one way or another. The way they did this. I'm so sour on this team right now I'm pissing lemon juice. I'm almost rooting against them.

Honestly, he was fired after the Leafs loss. When did you want them to announce it? On the day Paul Pierce played his last game in Boston? During the Super Bowl? Day after the super bowl to take away from the Patriots win?

Bad timing but honestly does it really matter that the parade was the same day?
- Mahewman

In January or December when they should have.

How do you see Marchamd, Bergeron, Krejci,etc's performance level once Carlo/McAvoy,JFK, Senyshyn are regular producing Bruins? do you see a situation where those players grow older but remain in lesser roles or do you expect them to still be a part of the core in 3-4 years? or do you see a sell off of some or all of the mainstays in tne near future like they did with Lucic, before they move on like Loui Eriksson? Legitmquestion as Im'm sure my GM still has a boner for those guys.
- Larsson_fan

I think that Bergy and Marchy will still be on the team. They may not be as productive, but they will provide good leadership for the up and coming players. You can't have a team of all rookies/20-24 year olds, so 37 and 63 will be the older guys on the team who provide stability and some production. Chara will retire. I think that Krejci will be traded. I think we are stuck with Backes.

also thought it was weak that Neely did not show up.
- Fountain-San

Bunch of cowards. Sweeney and Neely need to go. Incompetence at its finest.