Blackhawks: Coaching Candidates who could take the reins right now

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Aug 12, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien looks on from behind the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Can any Blackhawks fan think of Claude Julien and not think the Stanley Cup win against Boston? It has to be almost impossible. I can picture Joel Quenneville shaking Julien’s hand at the end of Game 6. Bringing Julien to Chicago would just be weird.

Then again, the guy is a good coach. He’s got a great record behind the bench and coached amazingly talented teams and players. During his time in Boston, he won the Stanley Cup (2010-2011) and Eastern Conference Finals (2012-2013). He can win and has 667 of them to his name.

While his time with Boston might make him an odd choice for Chicago, he’d be a solid fit for the team. When you look at his track record, you have to wonder if he’s being fired from Montreal wasn’t a circumstance of the team having a slump, more than it was a comment on his coaching. I think he was just the scapegoat for the team’s rough patch.

If Julien is available, and interested, I think he’s someone Chicago’s brass should sit down and chat with. His resume checks all the right boxes. If he’s willing, he may be the guy. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Greg Wyszynski, also considered Julien to be a solid candidate for Chicago.

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