Much has been said lately about what they would like to see CJ do and not do and some changes they would like to see him make. I thought it would be a good time to tell you guys a bit about what he i slike as a coach and a person as I have come to know him over the years. Unfortunately, we only get to see so much on TV and this does not paint a true picture of him.

I have known Claude since his days with the old Fredericton Express (Quebec's farm team). I was living in Fredericton and playing university hockey there at the time and Claude use dto coem out and work with our dmen. Ironically, my future wife's family was really close to Claude and he used to come down in the summer and water ski. I still laugh when I remember some of teh arguments he and I used to have. Being Quebec property he was always making fun of the fact that I was a Habs fan. He even told me jokingly that he would retire if Quebec traded him to Montreal (that is why it was so funny the day he was announced as head coach in Montreal. I still have the Newspaper article showing him with his Habs hat on with Andre Savard. I had him autograph it with the words "Never say Never. Claude Julien".  Claude coaches like he plays. As a defenceman he was not blessed with great speed. But he learned to make the most out of what he had. Even as a player he had a great hockey mind and I remember he was always anylizing the other team's forwards before the game so he knew their tendencies.

I have had the good fortune (or sometimes misfortune) of being in the dressing room a couple times after a game when he was coaching Hull and Hamilton. For those of you who say he needs to be more strict or animated, you would laugh if you saw hi,. I can tell you that if you are not pulling your weight out there, it is not a pretty sight behind closed doors. He will tell you exactly what he thinks of your lack of effort. The reason you do not see it on tv much is for a couple of reasons. When he coached in Hull he was always hollering at the refs. He told me that he found that this got the team too focused on the officials and not focused on what they needed to do. Also, officials have told him that they will be harder on the coach who is always on their case. He feels that if he remains somewhat calm back there then the team will do so as well. The other thing he refuses to do is embarass a player in front of his teamates or fans. That is why players respect him. You will notice the time he had to pull Theo he waited until between periods to do it rather than in the middle of the game. That is why. He did not want Theo being embarassed. Players will remember those little things and will play for him.

Contrary to appearances, the man has a wicked temper. But he has earned how to channel it. If you see him when they have a Microphone on him during a game you will notice he never stops chirping (of course tv edits out the bad rants). He is always hollering encouragement back there. make no mistake about it, he hates to lose (at anything..try playing poker with the man..it ain't pretty when he loses). His wife has told me that she prays for a habs win because the Claude she gets home after is alot easier to get along with.

As far as how players  react to him, I cannot speak about this years team, however I can tell you that players who have played for him in the past speak very highly of him. I had the good fortune of going up to see a game before the strike and met Koivu and Kovalev. Kovalev told me Claude was the best coach he had played for. One thing with CJ is that the players will never be wondering where they stand with him. I can tell you that Dagenais knows exactly where he stands (or sits) right now. Same as Perez. You earn your ice time with him, that is why Perez got more last night (but at the same time that is what has been baffling me about Ribiero). Claude works many 18 hour days. Generally at the Bell office at 6 am on game or practice days and he has an open door policy with the players. It is nothing to see one of the guys in there having coffee with CJ and shooting the breeze.

Anyway, I hope this long post gives everyone an insite into the coach of our beloved team. He knows he makes mistakes but he works hard and the players respect him. All we can ask for now.