BOSTON — The Bruins and coach Claude Julien have agreed on a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Sunday afternoon.
Julien, 54, is in his eighth season as coach of the Bruins and has led the team to seven consecutive playoff appearances, including two trips to the Stanley Cup finals. Boston won the Cup championship in 2011.
In a statement, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said the sides finalized terms of the agreement Sunday morning.
“We have worked at this for a few months, but there was never any doubt in my mind that this would get done,” Chiarelli said in the statement. “Claude is one of the top coaches in the NHL and has consistently shown a passion for winning through his coaching. Coaching is a difficult profession at the best of times and what Claude does in implementing structure in his systems, and having a solid defensive foundation while allowing freedom in offensive play is no easy task.
“During his time with the Bruins, he has excelled in maintaining this difficult balance, and his longevity here speaks volumes. He has coached the Bruins to a Stanley Cup and a Cup final appearance and our goal to win with him at the helm remains the same as we move forward.”
CBC reported that Julien agreed to a three-year extension during the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators Saturday night at TD Garden.
While Julien would not confirm the deal after the game, many Bruins players were thrilled for their coach. Since beginning his tenure in Boston before the 2007-08 season, the Bruins are 317-171-65, good for a .632 winning percentage. Only Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock (10 years) has a longer tenure with one team than Julien.
The Bruins have never revealed the terms of Julien’s contracts during his time in Boston. This extension will be his third with the Bruins. He received his second extension prior to the lockout-shortened, 48-game season in 2012-13.
“He’s a great coach, obviously,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said after Saturday’s game. “His record shows it, and he really makes it easy out there. He’s always working with guys and trying to improve players’ game. I get along with him really well, and we have a good working and personal relationship, so it’s been great.”
The Bruins have bought into Julien’s system of play, and the team has become a perennial Stanley Cup contender. The organization gave Chiarelli a contract extension prior to the 2013-14 season, so with upper management, Julien and a core of players locked in for the foreseeable future, ownership is showing a commitment to trying to preserve the winning tradition in Boston.
“It’s been great,” said Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask of the players’ working relationship with Julien. “Obviously, we’ve had success, and it didn’t take too long to get his system going, and it’s paid off over the years. If that’s the case, that’s he’s going to be here longer, it’s good for the Bruins.”
Julien gave the team the day off on Sunday; the Bruins will be back on the practice ice Monday morning.
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