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5 teams Claude Julien should coach in 2017-18

By Dave Stevenson

Dec 18, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Claude Julien available, some NHL team is going to be happy to hire him. Here are the five best fits for him. 

Claude Julien has been done wrong by the Boston Bruins. In typical fashion, he got fired on the same day as the New England Patriots Super Bowl parade. Julien is the winningest coach in Bruins history. In 2010-11, he led the franchise to its first Stanley Cup in almost 40 years. The Bruins need change, but the only meaningful change was going to happen in management, not behind the bench. Julien, for all intents and purposes, became the easy and unfair scapegoat.

It won’t take long for him to find a new job. Even Mike Babcock, who many consider the greatest coach in the league, respects how great Julien is.

Some team is going to get mighty lucky by hiring him. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Claude Julien might have been seen by the Bruins as trash, but he’ll be a treasure to someone, just like he was in Boston. Here are five teams who make sense for him if he wants to coach next season.

Dec 18, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are, for some odd reason, committed to current head coach Paul Maurice. He probably should have been fired a while ago, but he’s stuck around. A playoff appearance in 2014-15 likely saved his job for a bit.

Julien would be a significant upgrade over Maurice, as his career point percentage (.603) is on par with Maurice’s best single season (.604). The Jets have skill and talent, but no one to utilize it properly. Winnipeg has been loathe to spend big, but they should consider doing so for Julien. The Jets would be tempting for him too. Coaching Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler (again), and Nikolaj Ehlers sounds pretty nice.

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