Please pardon Julien’s French
Claude Julien had more important things on his mind — like how to help his Bruins escape their highly frustrating 0-2-1 winless streak with a victory this afternoon in Pittsburgh vs. the talented and deep Penguins — than the hysterical rumors that he’ll soon be fired.
But when the B’s coach was asked about the rumors yesterday by a Montreal writer, in French, he opted to respond.
“The question that was asked was how do I deal with all the rumors about what’s going on?” Julien said. “To be honest, my job is to coach a hockey club. Am I worried about my job? No, because it’s not my job to worry about it. My job is to fix things. My job is to do everything I can. And if I become one of the reasons that we’re not doing well, then management has to make that decision. It’s not my decision. I’m not quitting on the team. I’m not quitting on management. I’m not quitting on anybody. I’m willing to go through the hard times. If it’s deemed my fault, then I shouldn’t be here. That’s all I can say. But that’s not my decision to make.
“We’re going with what we said we’d go with — that there would be some growing pains along the way (this season). So be it. Did we put ourselves in a position earlier in the season to maybe (be) a team that all of sudden we believed was a playoff team? Absolutely. I still think we’re a playoff team, whether we can do it or not. My job is to do everything I can to get us into the playoffs. That’s what I’m going to do.
“So, as far as rumors are concerned, I know they’re out there,” he added. “But I don’t get concerned about them. Because worrying is wasting a lot of my time — and my time is about trying to fix things here.”
Speculation of Julien losing his job is hardly anything new. There are media “experts” who have tried to get rid of him annually for many years. Yet he has repeatedly helped the B’s remain competitive, even in seasons, like this one, in which the talent level was average at best.
“We’re at a stage where every mistake is compounding,” he said. “It seems like we’re finding ways to lose versus finding ways to win. I think our team right now struggles with maintaining its game for 60 minutes. (And) our team needs to get better in the scoring areas. Those are two areas that are hurting us in big ways. We’re talking about it, we’re working on it, we’re trying to get the guys to have a 60-minute focus. Are we capable of maintaining that level of energy throughout 60 minutes? That’s what we have to find as coaches, a way to get those guys to keep that level of competition through 60 minutes.
“At this stage, we’re not viewed as a high-skilled team. So we’ve got to be willing to grind it out. We’ve got to be willing to do it the dirty way. The dirty way means getting some net-front presence and grinding it out in that area. My job every day is to come in and try to fix things. Until I’m told otherwise, that’s what I’m going to keep doing. I (was) mentally prepared to go through those struggles with these guys this year and work through it.
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he added. “Every day if you don’t bring positive feedback or feeling, all they’re going to do is disintegrate. So I try to create some every day. Keep these guys motivated and not let them get down.”
Some wins would help the players . . . and the coach.
Bruins notes
This is the “Mom’s Trip.” The mothers of 22 players traveled with the team.
“Hopefully we can reward them (today) with a real good effort and a real good win,” Julien said. . . . Defenseman Kevan Miller, who went down with a concussion Jan. 14, was feeling much better in recent days, only to be bedridden the past two days with a virus. . . .
Colin Miller, out five games with a leg injury, continues to skate, and the defenseman shouldn’t be out much longer. . . .
Winger Anton Blidh was sent to Providence (AHL).