NHL Rumors: Could Ducks hire Claude Julien?

The Anaheim Ducks were blown out in a Game 7 loss to the Blackhawks, but could that mean the end of Bruce Boudreau behind the bench?

When the Anaheim Ducks flamed out on home ice for a second consecutive season in a Game 7 matchup, not many fans had an explanation as to why. The veterans failed to lead, the young stars didn’t show up and Fredrick Andersen was putting on his best Swiss Cheese impression in net.

But one name that has been mentioned with blame is head coach Bruce Boudreau.

As Eric Stephens of the OC Register opines, the Ducks could look to replace Bruce Boudreau this summer and if they do, there are a few names out there who could be fits.

"Maybe Claude Julien is set free out of Boston. Paul MacLean is available but is the one-time Ducks assistant and former Ottawa coach really better? An actual Stanley Cup winner with the Ducks is out of a job right now but we’ll guess that a second turn for Randy Carlyle is about as likely as snow in July."

Then again, there are few coaches out there as talented as Boudreau and it’s not like he’s run the franchise into the ground. He was a game away from the Stanley Cup Finals, and he’s consistently coached the Ducks to success during his tenure.

But winning doesn’t always get you job security, just ask former head coaches Tom Thibodeau in the NBA and Jim Harbaugh in the NFL. Both coaches are among their former franchise’s most winningest coaches — and both are out of jobs despite winning.

There’s no such thing as a safe coaching job in professional sports, and if the Boston Bruins fire Claude Julien and put him on the market, Bruce Boudreau might start to sweat.

Of course, hiring Julien would require the Bruins to fire him — which would be yet another prime example of a great head coach getting the axe for just missing the cut.

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