Sens reporter on why Claude Julien is a 'natural fit' for the Ottawa Senators
While it is still early in the season, it's fair to say the Ottawa Senators have been underwhelming. After adding some major pieces over the summer in Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat, Cam Talbot, and a couple of others, the Sens seemed poised to take the next step and compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While Talbot had yet to play his first full game for Ottawa at the time this article was written, the team has looked flat all around, and fingers are starting to point at head coach DJ Smith for the lackluster start. Sylvain St-Laurent, who covers the Senators for newspaper Le Droit, recently appeared on 98.5 Radio where he said the pressure on Smith is very real, and pointed at Claude Julien as a replacement that makes a lot of sense.
"The pressure comes a lot from the market. It's been five to six years since fans last tasted the playoffs. These were difficult years. Some people had told me that the first 20 games of the season were decisive for DJ Smith. Four wins and five losses, a team that lacks consistency, it's not encouraging for him."
"I haven't spoken in the last year with Claude Julien, but he lives in Ottawa. He was motivated to work last year, he even traveled to Beijing to lead a team with minor league players at the Olympics. The last time I spoke to him, 'on the record', he told me that he wants to work in the NHL with an interesting organization, with people with whom he gets along well. He and General Manager Pierre Dorion have known each other for more than 30 years, they are friends. I think it would be a natural fit." - Sylvain St-Laurent
"I haven't spoken in the last year with Claude Julien, but he lives in Ottawa. He was motivated to work last year, he even traveled to Beijing to lead a team with minor league players at the Olympics. The last time I spoke to him, 'on the record', he told me that he wants to work in the NHL with an interesting organization, with people with whom he gets along well. He and General Manager Pierre Dorion have known each other for more than 30 years, they are friends. I think it would be a natural fit." - Sylvain St-Laurent
Julien is a veteran coach, who's been the leader of an NHL team for parts of 18 seasons. The experience is certainly there, but the big question is whether Julien's style fits today's fast-paced, north-south game. HIs last gig was with the Montreal Canadiens, his second stint with the team. He was fired in February of 2021 when the Habs were faltering badly 31 games into the season.
One thing is certain, if the Senators can't turn it around over the next 10 games or so, Smith will likely be hitting the unemployment line. Other than Barry Trotz, Julien is certainly one of the better options out there, unless Ottawa decides to go completely off the board with someone who's never coached in the NHL before.
Source: 98.5 GM
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 3 | 162 ANSWERS Sens reporter on why Claude Julien is a 'natural fit' for the Ottawa Senators What your opinion on Claude Julien? | ||
| He's a very good coach | 57 | 35.2 % |
| I don't like him/his style is outdated | 62 | 38.3 % |
| Not sure | 43 | 26.5 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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