Claude Julien, Bruins Head Coach

Our lead off hitter has brought to you by the cute double Mexican grill have made for real log -- the dale and -- page on WEEI dot com. To receive today's special lunchtime offer or text -- but the 645336. Joining us on the line head coach of the Boston Bruins. Load Julian -- Michael welcome back I don't want.

Very good guys thank you as I said to Peter yesterday happy new year. I expect that I guess that is the new year forests.

Would get the that that I guess that the big question in most people's minds out of the way now that you had the pregame skate and get ready for tonight's game. David Craig -- apply for an.

If you will actually feels really good in the he's excited vote get back in the lineup -- I like what it -- from him this morning there's no reason oldham back.

You know call when we talk with you this time last year we announced that the playoff experience. Which was the first round exit. -- team and and what it did for you now. Yeah had a a first round victory a sweet. And had a heartbreaking loss. In an in game seven in the second round did that experience. Do anything for you. Coming into this year.

Well obviously we're still hungry again I think that's the one thing that that we aren't. What what's unfortunate that. We talk a board game seven and overtime loss and that. We also realized what that one goal could have done -- on our way in. We know so far it would -- but you know we we don't we learn from that we came back seen on -- expectations -- little higher for club this year because of what we accomplished last year but. That the challenge is still there make the hungry -- wanting to do better is still there -- on top testicle parents potential.

Your team won the Jennings trophy a year ago for fewest goals allowed -- Tim Thomas won the vezina trophy. Safe to say that as a team they bought into York. Team wide defensive structure DC that continuing do you see the same commitment to it this year so far.

it's been hard to. This test that -- you know based on our training camp that we never. Greatly getter team together we had redeemed in regard to finish off -- it's -- able dirty -- players so I think we'll get a better. View that not a better team is together enough starts tonight but that I know for a fact that the players really like it they they find that they're very comfortable with that. That it really eliminates a lot of gray areas they were extremely proud of RS being able -- It allowed the fewest goals last year so it's you -- they called it -- defense first approach but the defense first approach means. You do well defensively you recover the puck quicker and and hopefully -- results in that raid offense which it did last year for hockey.

Truckload obviously the patriots a party started their season and and we look at them on offense we say who wanna make excuses for them. That a couple of new receivers and they are trying to learn the system they're trying to get into the flow with Tom Brady. In hockey when you have new players in your system. You click edit it would you consider it a difficult. System to learn for a Derrick -- to ending integrate himself into your system.

North not a difficult one but it's an historic adjustment one because you don't -- in hockey all the were. Maybe a lot of people don't see yet here's a very aggressive style. A deep -- and then there's you can't let. Try to hit it I guess keep teams to the outside that's what we do we -- keep you should be outside and we feel that if we do that our goaltender is good enough that you'll stop those. The shot so basically -- the -- some -- little bit more patient and visible been aggressive. And that's what. To be needed the adjustment for player like Derrick Morse who's been used to -- of a more aggressive style and that but not a difficult one but it's more an adjustment.

Your team seemed to make a concerted effort last year to get the defense more involved. In the offense and still worrying about Jauron and first but getting the more involved. Will we see more of that -- this group of defenseman it would seem to play into their strengths as well.

Yet doesn't you don't adding Derrick Morse probably a little bit more and offensive. Defenseman if you can parents Aaron Ward to resist it. Defenseman like blocked shots and that America's. Creep up moving defenseman who. Well -- and partly as well but. That'll be one of -- the other part that we wanted to do little -- in -- fortunate sustaining it you know offense opponents and not -- retrieving. As quickly as we get there last year and I think that's that's what we got a few years be a little bit more aggressive and and beyond popular puck all morning -- event and hopefully that'll let me a little bit more scoring chances for us as well.

We talk with Peter surely yesterday -- a -- a great time talking hockey with him and he said one of the things he said was that. It could never get a number from Phil council's representatives about what it would take. To resign him and it was kind of frustrating. From his perspective and I'm sure if that's the case he's telling you about that. Did you start to plan for for life without Phil Kessel even before the trade was official based on the information gap from Peter.

Well I did an -- tell you why idea though probably not for the reasons that -- talk -- bowl but we knew that. If Phil Kessel had a -- here he wasn't going to be available to -- till November and that although David Ritchie was -- occur. Cassel wasn't you was who's basically got it was going to be ready when when he was told who's -- be ready so we get the that we would have had to start with them for at least a month and may be more. So this was something -- already planned on -- preparing we're through it what thirteen without Phil Kessel and at.

You know if there's no secret but listening to you last year during interviews reading between analyze this in the council last year. Reading between the lines. There there was some tension between you guys I mean you probably want him to do things that he he didn't wanna do. Is not a usual on the energy ever dealt with anything like that before your career.

All you would deal with that that -- your whole career there's always Thursday got to convince. And do stuff like that but you don't. -- they get to really has been blown out of may be proportionate little bit because it really wasn't. That big of an issue I don't think Philip Knight but -- last year and again I'll I'll -- UN when a -- scoring 36 goals I think he could have been appier went from 1936. I think if there was a little bit -- it would have been the year before and the year before. You don't feel was in a learning curve and we really want them -- and they're great player and we don't yet. -- gets yet their -- trust. And basically yet it can understand that we are really trying to help him and and not trying to punishment once he understood that concept I thought that last year he was much better and you don't. And it it's been played out that way in the media and that's fine with me but I don't think there was any issues with Phil I don't even remember pretty adamant in my office and and having that. Read and write back if that's. What people are expecting that that -- but -- retain and he was the player forests and -- unfortunately like you sent he was a third -- that -- we couldn't afford anymore or he didn't seem to want to be here either so that was upper management decisions and that I respect.

One guy that you did re sign in this offseason was David crate -- Give us a -- well what you think are the strengths of crate she's game and what do you -- is upside.

Welders and they Tikrit he's got a lot of upside -- parties. -- great -- we -- Marc -- being able -- it that it makes some of those great plays well David -- in that that area as well I think he's got great -- he's got good hands. Not only that but he he's gonna put up points on the board he's one of those guys that. Competes parties not a predates the it is always dirty yes as we call it and hockey but. What I've seen from disparate -- that every year keeps getting better and -- maturing in these understanding the game more and more what it what it takes to be a -- pro and I think that's -- really. Our organization like.

What would a full season of Marco Sturm to freer team's offense.

Well I think it would certainly. Help a lot as far as you know we talk to both losing -- has surged six schools well here's Marco -- at 28 two years ago when he -- year or so we we didn't have them last year so. Right there and and you'd -- here's a big. Part of -- castles goals that are better replaced by its terms and and we feel that virtual who's obviously much better player at this primary out anyways that this time last year will help -- compensate for that there's other players that keep growing in their roles that we think as a group -- certainly helped elect gap but no this is what Marco -- And bring her hockey club and mrs. what we expect that on this year.

we were talking about earlier about about an hour hour and a half before he came minded. There'll be out for the first time in a long time there will be no PG axles and on the Bruins and you -- that the one thing I like the bottom and he was able to. Hang around despite. You know several Bruins coaches who have different philosophies. Yet he was able to make himself say a viable member of the team what did you see in in PJ Axelsson made it obviously is something that. -- your predecessors saw as well.

Well you don't do it by taking a step back even when I was in New Jersey there's -- carrier that my assistant coach and I remember shocked popular vote PJ Axelsson when he was here in Boston which pat burns and -- I don't chocolate -- really like them and and what I got here and when you got to know PJ. What may be. The you don't stand out now we see is what PG brings as far as here's a guy had -- Hockey since he was able to read the plays well -- a great penalty killer and the value he wasn't a dirty goal scorer but he's the guy that when you were -- you could still put them on your top line because you have enough skill that he was able to make plays and you can you -- the Billy -- in that area when he. A perfect first wind player I don't think so I think you you get more as a third line. Defensive role worry Nextel excelled in it was a great only killer but he was still -- very person -- Diet and --

Usually the Bruins open the season on the road I can't remember the last time you weren't at -- some five game road trip to start the season. If you were starting the season with a long road trip is it safe to say Vladimir some -- might not have been sent down to Providence yesterday.

That that would have been a possibility I think it would have been obviously management decision and -- right now it's it's it's it's a matter of there it. Keeping some apps space it's a matter of a lot of things and that's go to the advantage that we have here in Boston they're cute provenance is less than an hour away and that's an easy call up and I think sometimes -- A player isn't gonna play much. It's not a bad thing to let them play a lot men I think we've had that advantage in the past -- as we head injuries. We called guys -- In -- responded well because. We can take a moderate stance we took them out from there are minor league system when he played a lot may just came in in well and and and mr. detour I think that's an advantage we have. It's unfortunate -- said that. Doctors cap issues and -- scheme and we have to make some tough decisions but you know I'm sure we'll see him back sooner of later.

What are your plans for Tuukka -- how much would you like to see your backup goaltender play in a perfect world.

Well they get a perfect world they would -- the penalty means 6065. Teams this year and two crew would have arrest again those are things that in the perfect world that musical partners are playing the way you want on the play and everything else. As a -- I don't. Put too much emphasis on that because it's basically a lot of it depends on the health of our goaltenders a lot of it depends on how well they're doing and I normally go you don't basically deemed a key -- Probably project known -- in the week at a time and a music talk with Bobby Sands -- goaltending coach and run things by him and then we end up making decisions at that point.

And I joked earlier about about reading the players. Certain player the riot act but I but I wondering. Even -- and professional hockey. You think every once in awhile. That you can do that that professional players as as talented as they are and as well paid they -- think. They they look forward to -- they needed and they go off the rails a bit.

Well you know -- that. As a coach this is what I can tell you is that if you don't do it. Produced fuel you need to do with that you're not doing your job and you -- there might be some players that will maybe understand what you told him. By years down the road maybe ten years down the road. But you know what you have to be able leader office. Knowing that you -- what you thought was best player and for the organization. And you know whether he grabbed it right away or not. You have to do what you -- and I think that's. The way I approach things and I'm -- a player might understand it quickly sometimes it takes a while but you know I I are too many players. I've given their careers safety that we're sort of understood that. Ten years ago when -- when the coach told me this or that and that's what ends up happening in so -- you do what you have to do. At that point. And -- that it's gonna help them sooner or later.

I wonder this how do you walk that tight -- of saying it yourself or calling the captain and in saying. The guys need to hear this get this message out there -- do you negotiate that.

Well I don't know if it if it's really to captain mats -- semesters that is -- real. Important message that he. Brought to the team I think it's a critical to do that you can bounce things off your captain and a lot of times -- you're trying to. It repulsive that team and you can ask him what what you see in -- don't want him that -- throw anybody under the bus but more than. In -- you want him to tell yo spurs get appalled that team but it's my job to do that I have to go in -- and get that message and I think. You can you can do that as long as you establish what I called fine line between respect and authority -- are you'll always. You don't. Understand what -- seeing if if you respect them and and if you respect the monopoly and you do right by the understand that you're you're authority.

finally before we let you go Peter introduced me to a new hockey term yesterday he talked about hockey player being greasy. And and the and other people abuse the term -- tough to play against. I liked -- yellow lot but the addition of Steve Beijing and that fourth line that might be the greasy slide to play against in the league right now.

While it might be because you know what that but I like a -- you Beijing and don't get me -- we we we all love that spaniel like that you did agree to -- last year and that the addition of Steve Beijing this year's either high energy player and I think. The way he plays in the -- throws his body around I think people who. -- which are also like -- Beijing because he's he he does whatever takes scheme -- game out -- you that energy or give you that physical presence he's also a decent penalty killer who blocked shots just like that patent held its so definitely that line will probably have a little. -- more and it's where I can use that that Germans while and and hopefully with that the -- he's important. They'll be drawn her weight around and get our perky and energy that that we need -- team.

Well cold you can admit you can admitted that Peter stall that term for New Guinea -- greasy thing.

Well I don't know why I was kind of like I didn't know where you got to go with that one I've heard read a lot it's Reese yelled give him credit for that one.

Let's be honest everybody's ready for the opener anyway but you better be because Alexander Ovechkin will be ready I would guess.

Yes yes and you know he's -- one of the best players in the weekend. Where were fortunate. To Piedmont this year Kirk or defensive. Strategies that get them and the fact that we limit. Scoring chances certainly helps but the other part is -- they. Have won a best offensive players and we are we really feel purple where we've got one of the best defensive players in league and the -- chair it was we've done a great job. Against minutes past the open that continues.

we always appreciate the opportunity to talk cocky with you best of luck tonight and for the entire season we'll talk against him. Thank bale Michael -- you guys later I think Clark -- why that is a close Julian head coach of the Boston Bruins.