Bergevin: Julien will return as head coach next season

It appears Claude Julien can rest easy this summer.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin confirmed Tuesday that the 59-year-old head coach will be back with the club next season.

"Claude will coach the team in October, November, and December, as well," Bergevin said, according to RDS.ca's Francois Gagnon.

After finishing two points out of a playoff spot in 2018-19, the Canadiens are all but out of the postseason race with 15 games remaining and will likely miss the playoffs for a third consecutive year.

"No one is satisfied with the results we have achieved so far this year," Bergevin said. "And we will have to do everything to raise expectations next year in order to achieve our goals."

Though Bergevin is disappointed with how the season has played out, he isn't placing all the blame behind the bench.

"But it's not a change of coach that will get us there," he continued. "Our players must also take the necessary means to help us achieve these goals. We all have to take the blame for this year and it's collectively that we'll get better next year."

Julien, who served as Montreal's head coach from 2002-2006, replaced Michel Therrien in February 2017. Since taking over for Therrien, Julien owns a record of 119-105-31.

- With h/t to TSN.ca

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