The Montreal Canadiens fired coach Claude Julien on Wednesday.
Dominique Ducharme was named the interim coach, and the team added longtime wing Alex Burrows of the NHL to the coaching staff. The Canadiens also fired assistant coach Kirk Muller, who served as interim coach in the 2020 playoffs after Julien was admitted to the hospital with chest pains and underwent a heart procedure.
The Canadiens were one of the hottest teams in the NHL to start the season, and have apparently become serious challengers for the North Division. However, the Habs have won just two of their last eight games and have been demoralized by losing rugby games in the battle against the Ottawa Senators.
Montreal is 9-5-4; although the Canadiens are eight points behind the leading Toronto Maple Leafs, they are still comfortable in fourth place, which is eligible for the playoffs.
Expectations have been raised this season after general manager Marc Bergevin was very active in the off-season. Bergevin upgraded in every position, catching up with Jake Allen, a veteran goalkeeper, for Joel Edmundson, defender, and catching up with several new forwards, including Tyler Toffoli (12 leading team) and Josh Anderson (fourth in the team with 12 points) .
Julien, 60, was one of the highest paid coaches in the NHL and earned $ 5 million a season. His contract lasts through the 2021-22 season.
Julien led Boston to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and he ranks 13th in NHL history with 667 career victories.
“I would like to thank Claude and Kirk wholeheartedly for their contributions to our team over the past five years during which we have worked together,” Bergevin said in a statement. “I have great respect for these two men whom I highly appreciate. In Dominique Ducharme we see a very promising coach who will bring new life and new energy to our group. We feel that our team can reach high standards and time for a change. ‘
Ducharme, 47, has been assistant coach at Montreal for two seasons.