It was June of 2007. Rumors were swirling the streets of
Boston about the Celtics possibly landing a big name star. The Red Sox were
currently on fire as they posted a 47-25 record a top the A.L. East. Bruins
excitement was certainly not flowing through the city of Boston. The Bruins
were just coming off a losing season and missing the playoffs, something that
doesn't farewell with Bruins nation. It was June 22 and the Bruins announced a
press conference out of nowhere.
Rumors were
circulating the city that the Bruins had hired a new coach, the 28th head coach
of the franchise, but people were still unsure. However, at the press
conference, surrounded by reporters and media, Claude Julien was introduced as
the new head coach of the historical Boston Bruins. Not many people were
certain that Julien would succeed in a big market city like Boston. But boy did
he prove those people wrong.
Julien went
on to accomplish some amazing milestones while coaching the black and gold.
Even with a first season full of injuries plaguing the team, Julien was able to
lead the Bruins to the playoffs within just one year of coaching. Two years
later in 2009 he was awarded the Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the
coach of the year.
In 2011
Coach Julien was able to lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship, an accomplishment
the team had not completed since 1972. He was able to lead the Bruins through
multiple scares that playoff season. Not
once, but twice, the Bruins found themselves in a hole as they were down 2-0 to
the Montreal Canadians in the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals series. And
then again down 2-0 to the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final series. Yet
they pulled off an incredible run, winning the next four out of five games to
fulfill their ultimate goal of winning the most famous trophy in sports, Lord
Stanley.
Coach
Julien then went on to take the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013, ultimately
losing to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in the series. However, just two years later the team had one
of their best regular seasons of all time as they received the Presidents
Trophy for the best regular season in the NHL.
Claude
Julien ultimately proved a lot of people wrong that were skeptical of the hire
back in June of 2007. He led the Bruins to the playoffs seven out of his nine
years coaching the team. He was able to lead them onto winging the Stanley Cup
for the first time in 39 years. He brought hockey back to the city of Boston. Today,
February 6, 2017, ten years after being hired, the Bruins and Claude Julien go
their separate ways. Nothing lasts forever, but thank you Coach Julien for the unforgettable
memories.
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