Looking back: Firing Julien?

[RowdyFan42]

Well, now that the season's over and the results of Lou's second stint behind the bench have been finalized, was the firing of Claude Julien a good move by Lou? Was it a bad move? Did it not really matter because the problems went far beyond anything a coach could've dealt with? Discuss.

[Triumph]

in the end it didn't matter.

if he was going to get canned at the end of the season anyway, it's really not a big deal. it's a forgotten move - and one i sincerely think lou will not pull out of his bag of tricks again.

[Devilsdude530]

Well, Lou felt that Julien wasn't executing the Devils gameplan well enough, so I suppose he had to.

Lou will have some explaining to do though.

[thefiestygoat]

I agreed and still agree with Lou's firing of Julien. Although I wish it would have come sooner in the season, but Lou is the expert with inside info, so I can't disagree with him too much. I also think the Devils were just beat by a flat out better team.

[njdevils783]

Firing Julien never made sense. I'm starting to think he realized that the team couldnt really go far in these playoffs and would rather take the full brunt of that backlash rather then having Julien suffer from his overall design.

[LizDevil30]

I don't see a different result with Julien, but I think Lou had to know for sure. And now he knows what he needs to do with the roster next year.

The Sens were clearly the better team. The Devs were lucky to win one.

[TheHooligan]

It was a gamble but who knows how well Julien would fare in the playoffs? I like Julien and all and felt bad for him but it pisses me off the media was rooting for the move to be a failure.

[NJDevs4978]

I'd vote for choice two in the first part of the poll and four/five in the second part of the poll. Really the impact was neutral, the Devils were going no further with Julien. It would only have been a bad move if they lost the division or lost to Tampa. Although if there is a such thing as hockey karma it came back to bite Lou on this one.

In any case enough with Lou behind the bench, let him concentrate on what he's good at, putting together a team. God knows we're gonna need that.

[PeteyNice]

Julien was not going to get Marty to stop those bad angle shots that he allowed every game except one.

The Devils always go as far as Marty can carry them and this year it just wasn't far enough.

['7']

It had no effect on anything, Julien was about as blah and average as a head coach can be. He is Mr. Placeholder

[Devilsdude530]

If Johnny Mac can tone it down just a teeny bit, I want him behind the bench next year.

[devils26]

I think that Lou made the right move and the right time, because he realized that something was wrong. He did not want to let this team go into the playoffs with a coach who he didn't think could get the job done.

I also chose that we lost in the end because of the players. I refuse to say the reason we lost was because the Sens were a better team. If they were a better team, that could have contributed to the Devils losing. But in the end, it comes down to the players. If they put in the effort and have the heart to win, that is what decides the winner in the playoffs. That is why upsets exist, because the players on the worse team put in enough effort and show enough heart to make up for a lack in skill.

[LizDevil30]

Julien was not going to get Marty to stop those bad angle shots that he allowed every game except one.

The Devils always go as far as Marty can carry them and this year it just wasn't far enough.

[Z-Man]

Easy to say he f*cked up on this one after they're out.

Lou tried a Ftorek move again, and it didn't work. Oh well.

[LIDevsFan1]

The issue is whether Lou will now have a tough time recruiting the coach he wants (assuming its not Mac or Burns) because of his history. What good coach is going to want to come to an organization where you can get thrown under the bus at any time under any circumstances.

[PeteyNice]

Marty carries the teams to Cups? Where's his Conn Smythe?

[devils26]

I think we need Burns back to get the team motivated in a way that neither Elias nor Lou could accomplish.

[ice dog]

i say lou royally screwed up.

i also think that julien should never have been hired in the first place.

[njdevils783]

Lou being interviewed now

[msweet]

in the end it didn't matter.

if he was going to get canned at the end of the season anyway, it's really not a big deal. it's a forgotten move - and one i sincerely think lou will not pull out of his bag of tricks again.

Agree. Well put.

[Devils731]

Ya I want to vote for it not mattering.

[njdevils783]

Good to hear that Lou didnt even think we would win with the situation they were "put in" hmmmmmmm

[KOOL-AID]

Good to hear that Lou didnt even think we would win with the situation they were "put in" hmmmmmmm

Edited May 6, 2007 by KOOL-AID

[devils26]

Good to hear that Lou didnt even think we would win with the situation they were "put in" hmmmmmmm

[LizDevil30]

I never want to see Lou behind the bench again.