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Claude Julien revealed that he had never engaged in any previous discussions with St. Louis Blues coach, Drew Bannister.

However, everything changed when Bannister reached out to Julien via phone call, expressing his curiosity about Julien’s willingness to join the Blues as an assistant coach. As Julien contemplated this opportunity, his confidence in the idea grew stronger. This was particularly significant considering Julien’s extensive experience coaching in the NHL for 18 seasons and his triumph in winning the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

Julien shared over the phone on Friday that Drew got in touch with him, expressing his interest in having a conversation to determine whether Julien would be a suitable addition to their crew. Having familiarity with many individuals in that environment and feeling at ease, Drew and Julien had a lengthy discussion to ensure compatibility. Ultimately, Julien believes it was indeed a good match.

In 2021, the Montreal Canadiens saw the last coaching stint of a 64-year-old individual. Throughout his career, he has accumulated an impressive record of 667 wins, 445 losses, and 152 ties, with an additional 10 tied games, across 1,274 matches. Notably, he has coached for the Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and the Bruins. His coaching prowess was recognized when he received the esteemed Jack Adams Award in 2008-09, during his time with the Boston team. Under his guidance, the Bruins achieved an exceptional 53 victories that season, marking the highest number since their triumph in 1971-72 when they secured 54 wins. Furthermore, he has exhibited great performance in the playoffs, recording a commendable 68 wins and 56 losses in 125 games. He notably led the Boston team to a championship victory in 2011.

Julien expressed his enthusiasm for serving as a mentor, especially with a younger coaching staff consisting of associate coach Steve Ott, who is 41 years old, and assistants Mike Weber (36), Dave Alexander (47), and Michael Babcock (29). With this team, Julien brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to his already impressive resume.

Julien expressed that being a coach allows him to remain engaged in the game, something he genuinely enjoys. Additionally, he sees this as a chance to support a talented and promising young coach like Drew Bannister. Julien commends Bannister for his successful efforts in leading the team last year, acknowledging the challenges of revitalizing a team and commending Bannister’s commendable job in that regard.

I expressed to him that throughout my time as a head coach, I have been fortunate to work alongside talented assistant coaches. Now, at this point in my career, I see this as a valuable opportunity to reciprocate that support and mentorship for someone else. I am genuinely eager to assist Drew and the coaching staff, who are a dynamic and promising group. With my experience, I aim to contribute and aid them in their endeavors.

Bannister, the 27th coach in Blues history, confidently stated that hiring Julien was an obvious choice. Julien, who took over from Craig Berube on Dec. 12, 2023, achieved an impressive record of 30-19-5. Recognizing his merits, the organization awarded Julien with a two-year contract, validating their decision.

During development camp earlier this month, Bannister explained, “As I evaluated the process and considered the qualities I sought in a coach, as well as the vision I had for our staff, players, and team, Claude consistently stood out. His extensive experience as a head coach, including his time in major junior, the American Hockey League, and the NHL, was exactly what I was searching for. It was crucial for me to find someone with NHL experience and experience as a head coach at that level.”

After engaging in numerous conversations and conducting several impressive interviews, I consistently found myself drawn to Claude and his potential contributions to our team and players. As I have mentioned previously, his arrival instantly elevates our overall performance.

In 2018-19, when the St. Louis Blues clinched their first and only Stanley Cup victory, General Manager Doug Armstrong had a parallel encounter. He enlisted the services of Hall of Famer Larry Robinson to join Berube’s coaching staff, an addition that proved immensely valuable. Armstrong now aspires for this new hiring to yield comparable advantages.

Armstrong expressed his excitement, stating, “I find it truly exhilarating. In our conversation, Drew and I discussed his team and I shared my own experiences working with various staffs and how they were assembled. I was greatly impressed by the way Larry Robinson mentored a young staff. At this stage of his life, I believe Claude is more open to accepting this opportunity and finding immense joy in collaborating with young coaches, aiding in their development, and sharing his experiences with players.”

The individual possesses an impressively filled trophy display. Concealing this fact is simply impossible, and I believe the players are well aware of it. In case they are unfamiliar with him, they will undoubtedly resort to Googling his name and be astounded by his accomplishments in winning Presidents’ Trophies, Stanley Cups, and various international events. It is evident that this person is undeniably a champion.

In my opinion, Mike Babcock and Barry Trotz have both expressed the idea that having serial winners within your group is perfectly acceptable.