Claude Julien Boston Bruins Head Coach

Earlier today. The Boston Bruins introduced the 28 head coach in there for a long and storied NHL history. As we pointed out to the sixth head coach of the Bruins since the 2000 season. He has -- Julian who joins us on the line right now -- dale and Michael thank you for taking a few minutes. Congratulations to. Tell me about process how a lot high you were approached by Peter sure rally and how this all came down.

Well you -- approached by Peter it's a little over a week ago when. Peter call me if I might be interest in the in the during the Bruins and we sat down attic which sat in the everything got finalized at the beginning of this week but. Unless I've known Peter for a long time where both from the auto area and a we've known each other for many many years.

A lot of interest it here why you're -- you're sitting in coaching this team.

Well I think there's a lot of actors first of all you don't everybody's. There's always talks about tradition here the Bruins in the history and that's you know my original six from this is something I grew up watching it well and I think is there one of the factors that they're really interest to meet. With the fact that this team had a lot of potential and you know I was excited to take on the challenge in that coming over year -- that and and I hope you read -- weren't. Where everybody expects to be.

One of the things that Peter -- rally talked about this morning when he introduced yet. Was your ability to worked with young players you've coached in juniors you coached in the American hockey league. You've coached Patrice Bergeron for instance in the in the world junior championships how important is the young element for you in this.

Well I mean you don't into these demons this -- salary cap and everything. As she just important. Good mixture of that but -- veterans and you're young players and in order to to get get some stability in an organization import to develop. You're young players as well and you know I think I've enjoyed working with the young players and -- would like to thank that -- had success with those guys as well and you don't we've seen what interest early in his first year and if you get more players. Accomplish that kind of thing it's certainly going to make this team that much better

you know better than anyone that one of the big names in hockey is -- morello. I'm wondering what it was like for you working for him.

Well you know guys there's been a lot of speculation a lot of things. That that have been set you know after the incident where -- I was very demanding and that's why he has -- Stanley cups. That is credit but nonetheless he was. You agree that it worked for very loyal treated me great from. From start to finish and that's the only thing obviously that was disappointed with that you don't -- like go with three games left and and you know as he has often mentioned that -- decision based on. What you thought was best for the hockey club and maybe not both the individual but nonetheless this is that the panicky weren't today in that we've seen a lot of those things happen. There with coaches obviously yet there's some decisions that are made based on. Different situations and that there's a lot of pressure on when he so no I think as coaches it's important that we yet. I understand that and turn the page and move on and and that's what I've done I'm -- port next challenge from Bosnia.

Well a little let me ask you this though Claude Jimmy had a great team their second best in the Eastern Conference a 102 point. Any move on he made that decision what did you think of his decision at the time.

Let you know okay guys it's it's I don't think it's really important or when it's important doesn't really matter what I think obviously what I think -- I would have liked to. -- that it continue on and it has to job and that I guess if you don't will never know how our equity stake in the team but that's going to meet you you don't. Hindsight is 2020 and you don't and that can be for what happened and -- what I think could happen and I stayed on but unless I mean decisions are made and and you -- notorious particularly with them.

Tell me about your style when you were coaching in Montreal that team that beat the Bruins in the playoffs in fact it was kind of an up tempo skating kind of team. Any time that you coach in New Jersey it's considered more of a defensive oriented team tell me how you want the Bruins to play next year.

Well I think -- it. A lot of it is what you what you saw in Montreal and you know I think it's important pressed habit that to a certain extent it an aggressive style we want good. You which I mentioned in my press conference this morning but that also we -- there's a physical aspect of the game that. We we also have to tinker with a little bit because that the -- rules and but you know the biggest thing and the most important thing if that structure with a hockey team that -- a lot of players to understand what we're trying to accomplish as a group. Have everybody on the team page understanding but we need to do and that -- you do that traced -- reading off each other and that certainly need to keep that much more successful.

What what what did you think that this team last year at the Bruins.

Well again guys you know certainly we don't want to get into you don't when it was and what happened because again I think idea. At that my job to -- with the New Jersey Devils and I saw the Bruins. The extent that I at this. Odom in order to be prepared to play against them but you know I think the biggest thing I want to -- years built some consistency. And our play and that that every night we've become our team to play against them. That's something we'll have to work on and that that means improving our defensive team so that we can cut. The goals against down but also having some structure where we have picked -- that we can net -- more scoring chances as well.

I've heard Peter use that phrase harder to play against I've seen Charlie Jacobs being quoted as saying we need to be -- year. Does this team need to be tougher than they were.

Well you know the tougher it would guess that can be Kenyon met a lot of different things to different people and that as I mentioned because you know attack that's crap. People down Timor and the rules achieved it becomes a little harder to be able to neutralize the player with a big hit. I think tougher to play against you know -- to be created here you gotta be strong on the -- to -- all we know it was kind of battles and you don't. Instead understand that in order and then score a goal. -- old -- And it's not going to be easy and that at the same time. When he battles longer -- and the corners well speaking up is go create scoring chance and that's what teams to know that when he played number -- It's going to be a tough team that's what. No it you know hard to play against all the boat and that remember when I came in the Montreal in my first full year. That's what I had mentioned and that's what we're trying to accomplish and and that's why we had success here that -- that we became back and it even that I'd like to be able to create that would -- article appears well.

Another phrase that Peter used when he announced the decision about Dave Lewis was he wanted to coach who would make the players accountable. What does that mean TO.

Well I think first as I mentioned you know that having the right attitude as players means accountable to yourself into. And that's number one but at the same time it's important for me that it created situations year that. But the players are going to realize that's from the first player to the last player eight team things have to happen. They have to be as accountable as the next guy and that if you let certain guys get away with certain things. Then it that we create stability that you look at or and want to you. You realize that -- you're you're able it. Establish -- I think -- start to grow into it the stronger and better team and that's it Kris certainly a better team atmosphere.

You know in New Jersey at one of the great goaltenders in the game and Martin Brodeur. You could do some things defensively with a guy like that between the pipes in Boston you don't obviously don't have that. Woods what you have to change your defensive system a bit too adjust to the talent that you have here.

I don't think it it's just 32 just that it talent that we had here I think it's more or less. It doesn't matter where you are if you can get their team -- play well defensively. That means you're gonna give the other team -- scoring chances from from. Premier areas and I think that's when you have Mark hamburger with telling you is that you know the guy's incredible we're doing a good job at at. Not giving that many quality scoring chances and that I think we can accomplish that here -- a group and there once you get. You accomplish senator grouping get better they would've balked at Mujica and up. It with the puck a lot more than you normally -- I think we've got to try and minimize chasing around at net reading around where that you spend too much time to 8 O'Clock. I think if we get a good system together defensively -- certainly improve our offensive even as well.

based on the way the NHL is today it is such a special teams league power play penalty kill. Is that something you like to have your your hand on personally or do you like to delegate some of that to -- assistant coaches.

I think it's it's it's ethnic group or you don't you can you can delegate certain things -- always at that pitcher that -- critical test is overlooked everything and make sure that. You're you're an agreement with every at -- And you know unfortunately in this -- today with a -- teams and number games that are played in short span of time. It's important to have a big group around you get -- able to do some work but. Again I think it's special teams they have to beat rule today fresh going to be important -- minimize their penalties and I was force enough and you jury you know it. Police team like animals -- that. That would just demon and -- minimize the number and we we taken take advantage or are played by have a good are quite well.

When do you plan to have to flesh out your staff here.

Well I think we were are certainly take some time to talk a boat written that. And then make sure that when we do make their choices as an idea great choices just to make I guess our group even stronger.

Well Doug -- of the apart of that staff.

Well it certainly and look -- sports sitting down with dug him out. I think -- it's -- he's still part is hockey club right now announced that don't we intend to keep them on board.

Have you had a chance to talk to any of the assistant coaches who are still on board the Bruins in in and get a sense of -- the -- Africa.

But it took we visited the -- left here on that and certainly look -- to talk into my want to make sure that. We had the announcement made the first and then I'm going to get -- more likely later on they.

Club did you have an offer from the Ottawa Senators to go there.

I think that's been the biggest course NAFTA. Because I have from the auto area and obviously you know Bryan Murray well but you know they the bottom line was that I was having. Agreed to discuss your -- bruised job at the very comfortable with it -- It is that we we we finalized everything at the beginning of the week and and I am extremely happy that -- made that choice.

We've asked you about talking with assistant coaches we haven't asked about talking with players when do you plan to begin that if if you haven't that are already.

Oh very shortly I think now I've had occasion to -- players that are around. And deteriorate now on I'll certainly -- have a -- introduced myself and have a little bit of it. -- but I think as the summer goes on I'll make sure that -- you to speak for everybody and that by the time everybody shows up the treaty chapel that. There will feel comfortable in knowing in what direction we want to take.

I assume you'll be part of the Bruins contingent in Columbus for the draft this weekend.

we have not guys to get -- so quickly there and actually I guess what's going to happen -- Columbus now agree it is. -- about it toting and I'm charity it's Thursday just. And I think article which is concerned I don't think any to Belmont is still don't think. Skills -- to tell me under article two well let -- that they after that and well look for details we casino's prospects on the road.

Claude as you know all of their might not be on a more intense rivalry in sports than Bruins Canadians you've seen it from that end of it. Have you thought about what it's going to be like to see the same rivalry from the other bench.

Well actually I'm looking forward to a desolate. That's the excitement of go to the sport that you're able to that he put in I was kind of situations and you know I -- my time with Montreal and I'm look important that. -- Vietnam on the other side and that possibly having -- the success that -- or -- governments.

I know you probably haven't had time to to go through the roster player by player but you scouted against this team you played against this team. You have talent on this roster right now that you think is playoff caliber.

All absolutely there's no doubt it electricity earlier -- real regular tourist potential leader in that you know again if you look at the big picture. I was becomes Gary but if you look at. But the smaller picture in the smaller picture means our team as the season progressed we need to progressing well in -- by the -- the scene that you want to. They want to make sure that you got yourself the playoff spot. Once you once you accomplished that everybody knows that and what's happened in the past -- anything can happen solar. -- certainly look at the smaller picture work ourselves or is -- victory -- that. Possibly -- that at some point.

Zdeno Chara was the captain of this team does he continue in that capacity for you.

I think so you don't season -- chair for a long time and date has great leadership. Qualities and you know I know that people who have questioned at a podium because of last year but. You know the captain always an easy target when -- Pete maybe doesn't. That fulfill what the people were expecting from the field but -- he has a good competitor he's a good first music -- leader and that's certainly a guy that. You know I think it. That the 29 other teams in the league would like -- roster.

congratulations on the appointment will look forward to seeing you work here very soon and especially next season. Thanks that is sent -- in the new and coach of the Boston Bruins