This is the first time since February 2020 that Julien will be back behind the bench of a hockey team. Remember that the Canadiens fired him at that time.
For the first time in nine months, the 61-year-old made a public appearance to talk about his last stay in Montreal. He had only good words for the Montreal organization.
"I'm not bitter, the Canadiens have always treated me well."
He even admitted that he found it hard to watch his former team have so little success this season.
"I know most of the players, I don't like to see what's going on right now," he said of the Hab's current campaign. "We want to see them succeed and not be unhappy. I'll never have a problem saying the Habs and what happened, that's part of the business."
He did not close the door on a return to the NHL, quite the contrary. However, it will be one step at a time in his case.
"For now, I still have the bite, I love doing what I do. It's really nice to be back behind the bench. It's going to give me a chance to get back into the action."
There is no doubt in my mind that he will find a job in the Bettman circuit in the next year. With all the experience he has, it would be a crime to leave him on the bench.