Comments on: Claude Julien FIRED!

By: leniwm1

leniwm1 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:17:37 +0000

let me clarify a little more...

I am a huge fan a follow everything they do. And by watching the team's play recently, all the games they won, they could have lost. It wasnt "Devil" hockey. And by watching them all the time, reading about them, etc., you understand what is going on belive it or not and this didnt surprise me at all. In fact, i was wondering if he would actually do it again. And i think it was a great idea.If Julien cant get them to play "Devil" hockey, like they did when Lou was behind the bench, why NOT change it. BTW, when Lou did coach, it was MacLean makn the decisions. He is being groomed for the position. As for as a top tier coach, we never had one, we dont need top tier coaching when he gets players that can be molded with his style of play; players that play for the team and not themselves. We had Lemaire, but he wasnt a Bowman or anything.
You make it sound like the franchise has salary issues everyyear. It was a one year fluke with the slary shit, Lou is on top of that area so well, others GM should learn from him. And as a side note, i stopped questioning Lou's decisions after the 2003 cup.
To the credit issue, its not the credit from you and the other guy and me, its from the media, the analysts the ESPN's that need to open their eyes.

By: nonhl2005

nonhl2005 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:23:02 +0000

Most people are not Devils fans, period. Maybe if they had the following of a Philly or Toronto or Mtl they would get proper credit but it's kind of hard to give credit to a team that can't even get it's own fan base to give them proper credit. Lou is a great GM but you can't sit there and say you knew this was coming. This is out of left field and it's everyone's right to question THIS decision by him. I have 'bash'ed Lou for this and I am not the least bit jealous of him, I admire what he has done but am not jealous in the least. I got to really wonder if a top tier coach would come to a team that
1 Has an aging superstar (granted he has a couple years left but still getting up there)
2 Has salary cap issues
3 Could possibly lose 2 of it's best players this off season.
Not to mention, have the fear that even having a 100+ point season could get you fired if a player doesn't like you.

By: cecilturtle

cecilturtle — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:18:25 +0000

What Lou just did does makes sence to me... When I think about the beginning of the salary cap season this year, and all the juggling, trading of draft picks, and cap-ology work Lou had to do to fit this "all-star team" lineup in under the cap... Clearly the Devils were most fans popular preseason favorates to win the cup. This Devils team going into the playoffs with a healthy Brodure should still be the favorates to win the cup, but they are not! It seems that Lou looked at this team and said, "This team is not ready for the playoffs!" I guess Lou feels that if his team is going to get upset and knocked out of the playoffs??? He wants to be there behind the bench to see first hand who the Devils leaders and cluch players are (IE:Langenbruner etc) and which players quit or their poor unclutch play hurt the rest of the team. This way at the very least win or lose, when it is time for Lou to work his annual "salary cap season" cap magic next year... He will know exactly which of his players he should resign, let go, and trade away!

CT

By: leniwm1

leniwm1 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:43:58 +0000

Firstly, most of the people commenting here are NOT Devils fans nor watch the games, so their reasoning cant be at all accuarate; they have no reasoning for opening their mouths. People dissing Lou with his 3 rings and arguably the most stable and successful franchise in the last 12 years is very ignorant.
I was watching the Blues v. Stars last night and they were praising Dallas's 102 pt season. But who did they get at the deadline. Nagy, Norstrom etc. Incredible players. Devils deadline deals, lose Hale. But wait, 2nd place and 102 pt. season. Devils will never get any credit, but thats OK. Because we KNOW how to win. Honestly, im glad we didnt pick up a name player because the team would rely on them and take the wind out from under Zajac and Parise who are really carrying this team offensively.
And someone mentioned loyalty! You loser, Juilien wasnt even with the team a whole season and u talk loyalty? Loyalty is Brodeur, Elias, Padolfo, Brylin and As. Coach Maclean who WILL BE THE DEVILS COACH REALLY SOON. We have players wo want to WIN, and LOU built around that from day 1, so to bash Lou from unthoughtful and ingorant minds conludes that most people are really jealous.

By: nonhl2005

nonhl2005 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:53:28 +0000

What better way to keep the UFA's from leaving your team then to the fire the very coach they didn't want to play for. Lou knows what he is doing, he wants Rafalski and Gomez back at a certain price and this helps him get that.

By: Superman4452

Superman4452 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:28:46 +0000

yeah, this move was unexpected and crazy, but u cant judge a guy with three stanley cups. he knows what hes doing. good luck finding a coach next season tho

By: flamingsenator

flamingsenator — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:46:34 +0000

maybe u should get a video camera

By: hockeyfreak64

hockeyfreak64 — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:05:08 +0000

I thought April Fools was Yesterday! Poor CJ, he is a great coach and needs to find a place without crazy expectations like Montreal, or without a kooky GM like Lou. I realize that Lou is a great GM, but he sure does go about it funny

By: NHLman

NHLman — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:54:16 +0000

Beginning of the end in Jersey? Peut-etre.

By: prayin-for-the-wce

prayin-for-the-wce — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:30:10 +0000

Loyalty gets you nowhere! WOW im still in disbelief, and im not even a Devil's fan