Jun 18, 2009 10:38 pm US/Eastern
Bruins Coach Named NHL Coach Of The Year
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Bruins head coach Claude Julien has been named NHL coach of the year.
WBZ
The NHL named Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien coach of the year, honoring him with the 2009 Jack Adams Award.
The award, given out by the NHL Broadcaster's Association, names Julien "the head coach who has contributed the most to his team's success."
Julien, who is in his second year with the Bruins, guided Boston to the Eastern Conference's top record, finishing 53-19-10 for 116 points.
The Bruins were best in the East and were one point shy of tying San Jose for the best mark in the league.
They ranked second in the NHL in offense with 274 goals, a dramatic turnaround from their #25 ranking in 2007-08 when they tallied 212, and ranked first in the NHL in defense with 196 goals allowed. They hit the 30-win mark in their 41st game of the season (30-7-4) on Jan. 8 vs. Ottawa, the fastest they have reached 30 wins since 1929-30 (30-4-1).
Julien was also the head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team this year.
OTHER BRUINS WIN AWARDS
The coach wasn't the only Bruin to go home with an award. Tim Thomas took home the Vezina Trophy. He was voted best goaltender by the general managers in the league.
Captain Zdeno Chara won the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which goes out to the defenseman who has the best all-round game. This is the 14th time it's going to a Bruins player.
Bobby Orr won it a record eight straight times. Ray Bourque won it five times.
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