Claude Julien’s stint as head coach for the Montreal Canadiens has officially come to an end. General manager Marc Bergevin confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating the following:
“I would like to sincerely thank Claude and Kirk for their contributions to our team over the past five years during which we worked together. I have great respect for these two men whom I hold in high regard,” said Bergevin announcing the decision.
In a social media farewell statement on Twitter, Bergevin also called Julien a “true pro”. Clearly this wasn’t a bad breakup, with other factors weighing in on the Montreal front office’s decision.
The Canadiens started off this season strongly with a 7-3 record, but then teetered over the next phase. Out of the following eight games, they only managed to win two of them. This is likely the reason for Julien’s firing.
In Julien’s place, assistant coach Dominique Ducharme will now serve as interim head coach. It’s unclear whether or not this interim spot will turn into something permanent, but perhaps that’ll depend on the team’s performance.
Although Julien was fired, he’s still a respectable coach in the league, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s hired by another team in the coming years.
