barry33 wrote:

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Forum Fan wrote:
...........this should spark debate , I can't see him pointing fingers ...
FF- As I said in a post earlier he will not point fingers. He is way too much a class act to do that. In fact, because he did not want this to distract from the team, he purposely waited until 5pm today to have the press conference when the team is away. Does he have the right to point fingers? Of course he does. But he only has 10. Theo, Kovalev, Ribiero, Gainey, Rivet..the list would go on and on. I expect him to go up there and thank the fans and the organization. I do know that this will be  avery tough press conference for him and that the media will be there trying to get him to say something negative so that they will have a story. But I willbe very surprised if he is anything but professional. A good thing it is not me because the name calling would begin.

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You're right on the money, Barry. RDS' report is found here: http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/195924.html

Brooklyn: I'm looking forward to reading your translation.

To leave the high head

January 17, 2006 - (RDS) - Three days after being politely thanked by Bob Gainey by way of trainer-chief for the Canadian, Claude Julien took stock, Tuesday afternoon, in the Bell Center. The former pilot is formal, it wants to return behind the bench of a team of the national League. "Saturday was one day very difficult for me, more especially as I really did not expect this situation. After a few days of reflexion, I know that I became a better trainer. I will rebound, I know it. You will re-examine me behind a bench in a future so remote step, in the national League as I wish it ", to declare Julien of entry of play. "I want to pass from time with my family, but I quickly will go back to the job quickly. And especially, I leave Montreal the high head and I want to look in front of me." "I want to thank the direction for the Canadian, Pierre Boivin, in André Savard in Bob Gainey. I want to also benefit from the occasion to thank my assistants: Clement Jodoin, Guy Cartwright, Rick Green, Doug Jarvis, Roland Melanson. But especially, I make a point of thanking the partisans for the Canadian. It is often said that they are best LNH. It is true, they are the best. Even when the team crosses difficult moments, they always line up behind the team. It is what makes Montreal also single ", continued Julien. "For me, to direct the Canadian was always a dream of childhood. I will preserve an excellent memory of my passage with the Canadian. One can aspire to direct a team also glorious only the Canadian, with all the great names and the banners, does not import where In this respect, Montreal is a single city ". Faithful to itself, Julien did not want to point whoever of the finger for his reference, accepting the decision of the top management with philosophy: "It is not my style to show anyone as regards arrived. I must take my responsabilities. I would have on the other hand liked to have time to finish what I wanted to finish... I did not succeed, and this, for the first time of my life." "I do not believe that the direction wanted to sacrifice Claude Julien. I think rather than they wanted to rectify the team before it is not too late. I respect the decision of Bob and I turn the page. I do not live in the past. I prefer to look towards the future ", to add the former trainer of CH. During last days, the Russian attacker Alex Kovalev had publicly criticized the working methods of Julien, denouncing that the defenders had sometimes the dependent hands. Once again, Julien wanted to shoot at nobody: "I do not think of having prevented the players from expressing itself on the ice. Kovalev is an excellent player and I respect it for that. Compared to the situation of the defenders, some already answered the question. My directives were always clear and I was always a trainer who recommended a play in the two directions of the skating rink ". End of the lips, Julien however acknowledged that certain players could have given some more, without, once again, naming anyone. "Yes, I think that some could performer better. If everyone had given its 100%, work would have been easier. But a part comes from the trainer whereas the other comes from the players. I thought of having the means of arriving there, but I did not do it in time ". After a very promising beginning of season, with a card of 12-3-1 with his the first 16 matches, which had enabled him to rise in the forefront in the East, the Canadian broke down thereafter, maintaining a card of 7-13-1 at the time of the 21 following matches. Because of this lethargy, the Canadian had passed from the first to the tenth rank. In a little less than two seasons to the bar of the team, Julien maintained a card of 72-62-10-5. Since the reference of Stalemate Burns, at the end of the season 1991-92 after having directed 320 matches with CH, no trainer succeeded in directing 300 matches to the bar of Sainte-Flanelle. Jacques Demers directed 221 matches behind the bench of the Canadian (107-87-27); Mario Tremblay, 159 matches (71-63-25); Alain Vigneault, 266 matches (109-118-35); Michel Therrien, 190 matches (77-91-22).

Jonny G wrote:

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Not only that, he left with a winning card of 72-62-10-5 on a team that was considered by many to be a basement-dweller (at least at during the off-season of the last two seasons).

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It makes you wish that there was a sort of temporary conditioning assignment he could have been sent on. Well, never mind, there's a lot of teams that within a month will be looking for a class guy with a winning record.

And we didn't even have to trade this one!

barry33 wrote:

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If there is a classier act in the NHL today I would like to see it. He handled himself with dignity, class and pride.

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Or at least soon to be in the NHL again..............

A class act to the end.