Hockey world reacts to Canadiens' firing of Claude Julien, Kirk Muller

Sportsnet Staff @Sportsnet

February 24, 2021 - 1:51pm

Sportsnet Canadiens reporter Eric Engels joins Good Show to discuss whether or not he was shocked by the Claude Julien firing, and to outline the reasons why he believes the team will look different under interim coach Dominique Ducharme.

107 comments

Canadiens head coach Claude Julien and assistant coach Kirk Muller are out in Montreal.

On Tuesday night, the Canadiens lost their second-straight game to the lowly Ottawa Senators via a 5-4 in the shootout, picking up their sixth defeat in the last eight games.

Montreal got off to an inspiring 7-1-2 start and has been even worse since, following an off-season in which Marc Bergevin dolled out $69.5 million to free agents Joel Edmundson, Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli.

As always, the internet had a lot to say about the situation. Here’s some of the reaction:

Claude Julien, who had heart surgery last year and is technically high risk yet still agreed to coach during a global pandemic, just got fired 18 games into the season.

— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) February 24, 2021

Claude Julien is a legitimately great coach who propped up a pretty mediocre Habs roster.

Fact is, you're not going to win games when your $10.5M goalie has a sub .900 sv%.

But alas, I'm sure all the Habs fans are stoked!

— Stats Sundin (@statssundin) February 24, 2021

I proof an article for work and the #habs fire Claude Julien and Kirk Muller. Sure the form hasn't been great of late, but I liked the style of play…

— Janne Virtanen (@V1r7anen) February 24, 2021

I wish Claude Julien well, especially his Health. He seemed to have lost weight and looked pale.

As for Kirk Muller, he is a Montreal hero and deserves the best. Wish him well also!

We lost 2 great guys, but they weren't fit for the job anymore

Good luck!

— Mathieu (@MathieuMMtl) February 24, 2021

https://twitter.com/JTC1414/status/1364591718675460103

https://twitter.com/calicoskatts/status/1364596922464493575

Claude Julien and Kirk Muller are considered to be two of the kindest people in the league. Getting fired is never easy, but this was the right call for the team. Credit to Bergevin for making the call.

— Matt-O (@MattyBoomHockey) February 24, 2021

This is a bold move from Marc Bergevin and it is the right move. It's actually the only move the GM had. You can't wait a week to start winning. You need to win now. Claude Julien, for his part, had run out of moves. Checkmate.

— Brendan Kelly (@brendanshowbiz) February 24, 2021

https://twitter.com/Richardokusaga/status/1364591181854834702

The Montreal Canadiens didn’t deserve Claude Julien

— yaggy (@coswell0210) February 24, 2021

https://twitter.com/HockeyOMC/status/1364599494898315264

Sad to see Claude Julien go but it was time. The culture in that locker room needed to change before it became too late. Can’t say it’s entirely Julien’s fault but it’s a business and someone had to take the fall

— Braeden Walker (@braedenwalker) February 24, 2021

I was always critical of @CanadiensMTL coach Claude Julien, but it wasn't personal, I just felt his coaching style was dated and he could not adapt to the new NHL. I expected more for such a storied franchise. here's to hoping a new outlook will change the current on ice mess.

— Kelly Mac Mullin (@WheatKings84) February 24, 2021

i still can't figure out why the habs fired claude julien

— teems.zoro (@fatems_19) February 24, 2021

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