Julien to Return as Bruins Coach

Claude Julien will return as coach of the Boston Bruins next season, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

Julien's status has been unclear since Peter Chiarelli was fired as Bruins general manager April 15. Boston hired Don Sweeney last month to replace Chiarelli.

The report cited two NHL sources saying Julien would be back, along with "his full cadre of assistant coaches, including Doug Jarvis, Doug Houda, Joe Sacco and Bob Essensa."

Sweeney is scheduled to meet with media Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. ESPN.com and the Globe said Sweeney likely would announce Julien's return then.

Julien coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011 and to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013. Boston missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, its first time failing to qualify for the postseason under Julien, who was hired June 21, 2007.

"We have a coach in place at this time that has a lot of success and been a big part of that," Sweeney said of Julien at his May 20 introductory press conference. "There will be some changes going forward, personnel changes, there will be staff member changes. When we decide to make those will be in due time, but I'll make the right decisions based on what's the best decision for the organization."

Julien, 55, is about to begin a three-year contract he signed in November. The Bruins are 351-192-79 in eight seasons under Julien.