View Full Version : Lou fires Julien
KB in Kelowna
4-02-07, 1:17 PM
At first I thought this was an April Fool's joke, but I checked the calendar:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/04/02/bc.hkn.devils.julienfir.ap/index.html
and it is being reported here as well: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=202500&hubname=
Perhaps MD has some insight on this?
swflyers25
4-02-07, 1:42 PM
Very weird move.
Madferret
4-02-07, 1:42 PM
Man...that's cold.
Doc??..
At first I thought this was an April Fool's joke, but I checked the calendar:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/04/02/bc.hkn.devils.julienfir.ap/index.html
and it is being reported here as well: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=202500&hubname=
Perhaps MD has some insight on this?
Here's your insight:
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5963/sigloulamorielloxo7.jpg
To be honest, I can't say as it really surprises me all that much. The Devils just have not been playing "Devils Hockey" for awhile now. Marty's fantastic goaltending this season has covered up for a lot of the defense's mistakes. The Devils for whatever reason have had a tendency to get stuck in their own end for lengthy periods of time, and just haven't been sharp like they usually are. Throw in the underachieving of the $16 million Elias/Gomez/Gionta line (granted all 3 have missed time with injuries, but when healthy have not been as sharp as expected), and the Devils have not been playing the way they should be heading into the playoffs. The bottom line to me is that Lou felt this team was not headed in a good direction and decided to be proactive about it. Hopefully this works out as well as back in 2000 when he fired Robbie Ftorek with 8 games left in the season.
I don't think this is about Julien as much as it is about the players. It's a wakeup call to the team that things need to change if they want to seriously contend for a championship this year. Lou demands nothing but the best, and that's why this move was made IMO.
Madferret
4-03-07, 2:32 AM
..and the Devils have not been playing the way they should be heading into the playoffs.
The Devils are playing exactly like I want them to be playing heading into the playoffs...
:]
To be honest, I can't say as it really surprises me all that much. The Devils just have not been playing "Devils Hockey" for awhile now.
What they got away from boredom? They gave a couple of their fans some action to get excited about? :laughing:
Serioulsy now, I'm truly hoping to see the Devils get swept in the first round, just to make Lamoriello look silly! That's just ridiculous... The team is first in their division with over 100 points, has played a big part of the season without key guys due to injuries and now that they're back, Lou wants to take them to the next level? I call BS!
What they got away from boredom? They gave a couple of their fans some action to get excited about? :laughing:
Serioulsy now, I'm truly hoping to see the Devils get swept in the first round, just to make Lamoriello look silly! That's just ridiculous... The team is first in their division with over 100 points, has played a big part of the season without key guys due to injuries and now that they're back, Lou wants to take them to the next level? I call BS!
All I'm going to say is remember 2000. The Devils were first overall in the Eastern Conference with 8 games left and Lou fired Robbie Ftorek. I seem to recall that working out quite well for the Devils actually.
Now the two teams are completelly different of course, but still it shows that Lou isn't afraid to make a move even if it ends up being unpopular. Yeah the injuries did play a part of the Devils struggles of late, but there have been stretches of the season where they have not looked sharp at all, even when those key players were in the lineup. Lou saw something with this team that he didn't like, and made a move on it. It may not have been the nice or popular thing to do, but he made the move nonetheless.
I say we give him the benefit of the doubt for now and see how the team responds before we all start calling for his head.:thumb:
If Lou's not careful he's going to create a "steer clear" attitude among potential candidates when he's looking for his next victim.... ehhhh I mean head coach.
Seriously, if I'm looking for an NHL opening this summer - I would most definitely think twice about taking the Devils job. Just in case there was any confusion, this makes it very clear that there is no such thing as job security in Lou's world.
As for whether or not this turns out to be a shrewd or disaterous move... well my guess is as good as anybody's - we won't know until it unfolds before us. Personally I think Lou put himself and the Devils behind the 8 ball. When the dust settles, nothing less than a Stanley cup victory be enough to justify Julien's firing in the eyes of many.
But again that's only for the remainder of this season. What about the longevity and continued success of the franchise? I'm not certain this will hurt it, but I'm fairly certain it won't help either.
I bet you 10 bucks that Pat Burns is named head coach in the off season.
MadDevil
4-04-07, 12:19 AM
I bet you 10 bucks that Pat Burns is named head coach in the off season.
There is a rumor at a Devils site that Lou and Burns have been seen talking quite a bit lately, so it wouldn't shock me at all.
I'm not sure as if I buy the theory that Lou is scaring away potential coaching candidates. It's no secret that the Devils are rough on coaches (they've had 14 coaches in Lou's 19 years as GM), so coaches have to know what they're getting into when they sign that contract.
The thing to keep in mind with the Devils is that everybody, from coaches to players, is held to a higher standard of excellence than any other organization in the league. Anything less than the Cup is considered a failure to them, and for whatever reason Lou didn't feel that Julien gave them the best chance to win a championship. I personally like Claude Julien and think he is a good coach. It's too bad that his tenure with the Devils had to end this way, I wish him the best wherever he decides to coach next year.
Time will only tell if Lou pulled off the same kind of move he did in 2000, or if he made a mistake. I just hope that this team gets to the Finals or is at least a serious contender for the Cup this year, or people will be calling this move a failure. Maybe it's just my blind faith in Lou or my bias as a Devils fan, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
I'm not sure as if I buy the theory that Lou is scaring away potential coaching candidates. It's no secret that the Devils are rough on coaches (they've had 14 coaches in Lou's 19 years as GM), so coaches have to know what they're getting into when they sign that contract.
Yea but it's growing increasingly unstable over in Jersey. At least Lemaire's tenure lasted more than a few seasons... but since then I think Burns had the longest run which wasn't that long - others have not faired nearly as well.
Here's what I really think... The Devils are slowly but surely dissolving into a mediocre team. Aside from Marty, they have lost the cornerstones of their cup run to free agency and retirement. They have been lucky over the past few years IMO to prevent a mass exodus out of the swamp by luring players back with 1) Marty and 2) the "lunch pail" winning atmosphere that has been so prevelant... but how long can that last if they don't succeed in the playoffs?
I think Lamoriello is starting to feel that pinch in the back of his mind. I smell desparation in this move that I have not sensed in years past. Brodeur turns 35 in a month. Seriously ask yourself where this team would be with an average or even adequate goal tender... Lou knows it, the players know it too.
Since Lou always seems to land on his feet, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as well until I see otherwise. But if they bow out in the first or even second round - I wonder what other tricks he has left in the bag.
I bet you 10 bucks that Pat Burns is named head coach in the off season.
How is Burnie doing? I haven't heard anything about his fight against cancer. No news is generally not good news.
KB in Kelowna
4-04-07, 4:57 PM
How is Burnie doing? I haven't heard anything about his fight against cancer. No news is generally not good news.
Here is an article that features a recent interview with Pat: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20070404_160714_5676
Interesting analysis from Stan Fischler. Take it for what it is...
Slowly but surely, the "mystery" surrounding Claude Julien's firing three games before the end of the season has become somewhat less mysterious.
This is based on off-the-record comments by some players analyzing reasons why Lou Lamoriello pulled the shoot on his coach with the playoffs ready to begin next week.
Essentially, the reaction of some has been a take-off on the legendary line of baseball manager Leo Durocher: "Nice guys finish last!"
The irony is that the Devils were in first place at the time of Julien's firing but that hardly influenced Lamoriello.
"It's easy to make no decisions sometimes," Lamoriello said at an impromptu press gathering this morning. "I had a responsibility to do what's right. In this case it was harder to make a decision."
While Lou would not get into specifics, some players were willing to talk on the condition of anonymity. Although he was a sweetheart as a person, Julien lacked firmness -- call it leadership qualities -- that would inspire respect among the players.
One player talked of "chaos" on the bench.
Another report indicated that a player openly criticized one of Julien's decisions in a mockingly sarcastic way after a practice.
Another theory floated is that the unusual spate of groin injuries may have caused by practices that lacked enough intensity, making the players more susceptible during vigorous game conditions.
First place or not, there was no paradise in the dressing room.
To his everlasting credit, Lamoriello put the welfare of the team first making one of the most courageous decisions of his life.
All of the aforementioned reasons could be summed up in Lou's simple observation: "I do not think we're at a point of being ready both mentally, and with the play necessary, to go into the playoffs."
http://blogs.msg.com/the_maven/
:dance: :soapbox: :dance:
Who's Lou going to blame now? :rolleyes:
Funny how everybody is always right when it comes to hindsight isn't it?
Somehow I figured one of the bitter Habs fans would the first to bring this up again. Damn that American bastard Lou Lamoriello for denying a former coach of God's team the Montreal Canadiens a chance to win the trophy that only Canadians deserve, the Stanley Cup!!! He should fire himself immediately, because he clearly knows nothing about running an NHL team!!!
Max Power
5-07-07, 9:50 AM
Funny how everybody is always right when it comes to hindsight isn't it?
Somehow I figured one of the bitter Habs fans would the first to bring this up again. Damn that American bastard Lou Lamoriello for denying a former coach of God's team the Montreal Canadiens a chance to win the trophy that only Canadians deserve, the Stanley Cup!!! He should fire himself immediately, because he clearly knows nothing about running an NHL team!!!
Sometimes it just takes some people a little longer to see things objectivly. It's nice that you see things clearly now. :thumb:
I wonder how the Devils would have done with Julien still on the ben ch.
I wonder how the Devils would have done with Julien still on the ben ch.
The way I look at it Julien couldn't have done anything about the Devils top scorers going MIA against the Sens, or the captain skating around with his head up his ass, or the team yet again letting their franchise goaltender down after he bailed their asses out numerous times...
krypt1968
5-07-07, 11:05 PM
The way I look at it Julien couldn't have done anything about the Devils top scorers going MIA against the Sens, or the captain skating around with his head up his ass, or the team yet again letting their franchise goaltender down after he bailed their asses out numerous times...
marty wasnt marty like he is known for. if he was he could of bailed there asses out some more.
Lou made his move and now he lives with it. no regrets he says. he is the boss its his right to fire or do as he pleases. i bad mouthed him alot after he did it. but like i said above he is the boss much in stienbrenner like way of the yankees. championships speak words what one can do.
But really Lou could of called marty sister in law to give marty that pre game pep pop. :nod: im sure that would of got him to excel.
marty wasnt marty like he is known for. if he was he could of bailed there asses out some more.
Throwing out the first period of Game 1, Marty's numbers the series....
2.16 GAA, .935 Save %
Those numbers are actually better than the ones he put up during the regular season, so I'm not sure why everybody thinks he played poorly. The only reason the Devils didn't lose 4-0 every night was because of Marty. The team in front of him played like complete garbage for most of the series, and the offense only seemed to give a damn when they were trailing in the final minutes. I'm not entirely sure how much more ass bailing Marty could have done for the Devils. An awesome season for Marty pissed down the drain by the team in front of him letting him down...
Lou needs to do the right thing and step down as GM, hire a new GM and then fire the new GM next spring right before the playoffs.:D
wildboy26
5-08-07, 4:04 AM
Throwing out the first period of Game 1, Marty's numbers the series....
2.16 GAA, .935 Save %
Those numbers are actually better than the ones he put up during the regular season, so I'm not sure why everybody thinks he played poorly. The only reason the Devils didn't lose 4-0 every night was because of Marty. The team in front of him played like complete garbage for most of the series, and the offense only seemed to give a damn when they were trailing in the final minutes. I'm not entirely sure how much more ass bailing Marty could have done for the Devils. An awesome season for Marty pissed down the drain by the team in front of him letting him down...
Stats dont always tell the whole story though, unless it is the ATOI ice time of Colaiacovo and White, and the worst season QB ratings of Grossman. :nod: Brodeur had overall good stats, but he lets in a couple of really soft goals which is why his performance is criticized.
Stats dont always tell the whole story though, unless it is the ATOI ice time of Colaiacovo and White, and the worst season QB ratings of Grossman. :nod: Brodeur had overall good stats, but he lets in a couple of really soft goals which is why his performance is criticized.
I'll give you that, although I don't think some of those "soft" goals were as bad as some make them out to be. Just a couple examples, the Heatley goal from the side Marty was looking for the pass and got tricked by a great play by Heatley. The Fisher goal he gave up I think he was a little bit screened on, but probably should still have had it. Those are the only two that really stick out to me, I've probably selectively forgotten some others. Considering how much rubber Marty faced in the series, some weird ones were bound to go in on him eventually.
The entire team needs to take the blame for the outcome of the series though. The Devils best players simply weren't their best players in the series, while Ottawa's were. Marty was the best Devil on the ice, it's just frustrating to see the season he had end the way it did. Marty has always been there to pick the team up, and this time the team needed to pick Marty up and it just didn't happen.
Oh well, on to the offseason...
KB in Kelowna
5-08-07, 12:51 PM
Blaming a goalie for a series loss for a supposed couple of soft goals, demonstrates that a person's hockey knowledge is limited to what the commentator on the highlites package tells them. Frankly the team in front of the goalie did not produce when they needed too. Perhaps this lack of key production is why Lou made the move he did?
Funny how everybody is always right when it comes to hindsight isn't it?
In hindsight? I posted just after Lou fired Julien that it was a bad move and I was told to remember 2000. Still a bad move and I'm glad it blew back in his face. When you play with fire... :thumb:
In hindsight? I posted just after Lou fired Julien that it was a bad move and I was told to remember 2000. Still a bad move and I'm glad it blew back in his face. When you play with fire... :thumb:
I don't see what the hell it matters anymore. The Devils would have lost to the Sens with or without Claude Julien behind the bench. In fact they might have lost to the damn Lightning if Julien had still been coach. I guess I'm just tired of hearing about it. Lou made a move based on his personal knowledge of the team, which I think is far greater than any of ours, and it didn't work. I guess some people feel the need to make a big deal out of it...
By the way, I wonder what your feelings would have been if it wasn't an ex-Habs coach who got canned?
krypt1968
7-19-07, 9:43 PM
I don't see what the hell it matters anymore. The Devils would have lost to the Sens with or without Claude Julien behind the bench. In fact they might have lost to the damn Lightning if Julien had still been coach. I guess I'm just tired of hearing about it. Lou made a move based on his personal knowledge of the team, which I think is far greater than any of ours, and it didn't work. I guess some people feel the need to make a big deal out of it...
By the way, I wonder what your feelings would have been if it wasn't an ex-Habs coach who got canned?
Well in all respect to this thread having no action in such a long time. how do you know they lose to the sens or lightning. didnt claude guide a team without nieds/stevens to the most wins in franchise history?
Not to sound bitchey again but really that should count for something regardless of how lou felt the team wast in the right direction.
Now they have sutter the best of luck to him and hope he flops in jersey. :D
Well in all respect to this thread having no action in such a long time. how do you know they lose to the sens or lightning. didnt claude guide a team without nieds/stevens to the most wins in franchise history?
Not to sound bitchey again but really that should count for something regardless of how lou felt the team wast in the right direction.
Now they have sutter the best of luck to him and hope he flops in jersey. :D
I'm not sure why you feel the need to keep this discussion going, other than the usual anti-Lou sentiments that seem to get drug into every Devils related thread. Unless it's the fact that your GM's incompetence won your team nothing over the last decade, while the GM across the river managed to put together one of the most dominant teams in the league over the same time span. Could that possibly be it?
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