Bench boss, Claude Julien, gets the green light. As the Montreal Canadiens continue to struggle this season, and are in peril of missing the post-season.
However, Habs General Manager Marc Bergevin seems content with his team. Once again, Bergevin has given a vote of confidence to his squad. This time, vowing that his coach, Claude Julien, will be returning next season. Despite two eight-game loosing streaks this season.
“Claude Julien will be at training camp in the month of September,” Bergevin told RDS. “I believe in the message he’s giving to our players. It’s certain that the season we’ve had has been a difficult one. We all have to take responsibility, Claude, myself, the players. Our goal is, essentially, to be better in September next season so we can be in the playoffs.”
Julien is in his second stint as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He took over for Michel Therrien midway through the 2016-17 season.
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The Canadiens are in tough. Currently chasing the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final play-off spot. And it isn’t looking good. With just 14 games to go, the Habs trail the Leafs by 9 points. And Toronto has a game in hand.
Although the Canadiens made the playoffs the year Julien took over, they haven’t done so since. Should the Habs fail to catch the Leafs this year, they will have miss the post-season in three consecutive seasons. And will tie a team record for consecutive play-off misses.
Trade deadline moves impact playoff push
Marc Bergevin chose to ship out 5 players at this years trade deadline. From that list, 4 of them were regulars on the Canadiens bench. In return, Bergevin accumulated late round draft picks, but decimated the squads player depth.
Ilya Kovalchuk and Marco Scandella, both recently acquired, were shipped out. As well as face-off specialist Nate Thompson. Nick Cousins and Matthew Peca were also dealt.
A recent spat of injuries might have Bergevin dreading his decisions.
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Islanders tonight in New York.
