Firing Claude Julien was cowardly act by Boston Bruins top brass

There was definitely bad news on the doorstep this morning, as Bruins Nation learned that Claude Julien, the organization's longest tenured and winningest coach, had been relieved of his duties.

Claude Julien led the B's to the Stanley Cup championship in 2011

During his 10 years behind the bench for the Bruins, the 56-year-old Julien led the B's to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2011, snapping a drought that lasted more than three decades.

Although the Bruins haven't made a playoff appearance since 2014, the firing of Julien is definitely one of the most cowardly acts committed by the Bruins front office in quite awhile.

Smack dab in the middle of battling for a playoff spot, tied for third place in the Atlantic Division with Toronto, B's president Cam Neely decides to axe one of the best coaches in the NHL.

It's laughable to think the Bruins are going to hire former St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock, especially after he was terminated by the Blues on Feb. 2. According to reports by NHL Network, Hitchcock has decided to step away from the game for good.

What's most distressing about the firing of Julien is this shakeup disrupts the ebb and flow of a team doing all it can to make the playoffs this season. If you think Julien's assistant coach Bruce Cassidy, who will take over the team at home Thursday against San Jose, is going to miraculously turn around this team, you're completely misguided.

It's not going to happen. What will likely happen is the the B's will compile a string of losses and won't make the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

"These decisions are not easy, and (B's general manager) Don (Sweeney) has my full support," said Neely, in a prepared statement.  "I believe that we have a better team than our results to date show. I also recognize that there are areas that we as a group need to improve upon." 


Thanks, Cam.