Claude Julien: 2011 Playoff Success To Decide Future of Boston Bruins Coach

The Boston Bruins' 2010 season ended in the absolute worst possible way, surrendering a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern semifinals versus the Philadelphia Flyers, and losing the series in Game 7 at home after taking a 3-0 lead to begin the game.

It was the second-straight season the Bruins had failed to advance past the conference semifinals with squads that fans and management alike felt were capable of making a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. 

The 2011 NHL Playoffs are crucial to the Bruins not only because expectations are so high, but the franchise hasn’t tasted Stanley Cup glory since 1972, a year that Bruins fans are painfully reminded of more and more with each playoff failure. 

The playoffs will also be the last chance for head coach Claude Julien to prove to the Bruins owners and management that he is the right leader for the Bruins going forward. 

Julien’s defensive style of play, as well as his refusal to give rookie Tyler Seguin major ice time, are just some of the criticisms of his coaching made by fans and the national and local media. 

Julien’s playoff resume is not very impressive—his teams have never advanced past the conference semifinals. 

In 2007, the New Jersey Devils fired Julien with about two weeks left in the regular season despite being second in the East at the time.

The Bruins did not use such drastic measures this season, but if Julien fails in the upcoming playoffs, he will be removed as Bruins coach.

Unlike last season, the Bruins are feeling confident going into the playoffs. They will have home ice in the first round and possibly the second round too. 

However, the biggest reason not to worry about the playoffs for Bruins fans is the career revival of goalie Tim Thomas, who is again a Vezina Trophy candidate. 

After a breakout 2008 season in which he won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender, Thomas struggled mightily in 2009, with an injured hip the primary reason for his dip in form. 

After a successful surgery this past offseason—in which the doctor who operated on him couldn’t believe he even played with the hip injury—Thomas has regained his superstar form in 2011. 

With Thomas’ consistent success this season in addition to having a playoff-tested backup in last year’s surprise goaltender Tuukka Rask, the Bruins have the best goaltending tandem going into the playoffs. 

The Bruins front office improved the team in many areas this past offseason and during this season to bolster Julien's squad going into the stretch run. 

To address the lack of offense from last season, general manager Peter Chiarelli traded for forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell from Florida, and acquired offensive defenseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto. 

With these moves and a couple others, the Bruins management has made the necessary changes to address the biggest weaknesses of the 2010 team, and as a result, the Bruins have improved in every facet of the game. 

But putting all the ingredients together and making them operate successfully is the job of the coach, and this task will be the deciding factor in whether or not Claude Julien is asked to return for the 2011-12 season. 

With quality players at every position, and a great mix of youth and experience on each line and defensive pairing, Julien has all the talent he needs to make a deep playoff run. 

If Julien fails to take the Bruins to at least the conference finals this postseason, he will fired in the summer.

That pattern of failure will be too glaring for the Bruins management to ignore, not to mention the pressure from fans to fire Julien.

In a town where every other major sports team has tasted championship success in recent years, Bruins fans are dying to sip from the same glass of success.

Julien’s fate with the Bruins resides on whether he can quench that championship thirst.