Paul Stewart: Disputes with Players and Coaches:Relationships, Timing & Message Matter

Paul,

I enjoyed this very much, but do have one question.

How can you say that you would defend a guy regardless of your relationship, and then, in the very next sentence, say it's hard to comment since you don't know the context? I get having a friend's/colleague's back and all, but it seems that the more logical step would be finding out the context before forming an opinion.

Much ado about nothing is correct, Paul. We’re all big boys, and use salty language. Anyone who would be offended by that in the context and situation described, is a real snowflake! The pendulum has swung too far to the left where everyone is offended by everything and wants some sort of special treatment, coddled, or apologized to. This is a case of nothing to see here, move along!

I watched the Montreal game in question and let me tell you Claude Julien was absolutely right in giving it to the refs that night.

Yes, refs are human beings too and can have bad days but the criticisms they received that night was well deserved believe me.

Claude might have got a fine but so should have the refs for their utterly brutal performance that night.

If I was a Montreal fan I'm sure I would be upset about it.
That said, It's a total nothing, who cares moment.

I'm sure Gallagher and others were all over him and he snapped back.
I had no idea how much the players and refs talked during a game and I'm willing to bet it's forgotten next game.

If I was a Montreal fan I'm sure I would be upset about it.
That said, It's a total nothing, who cares moment.

I'm sure Gallagher and others were all over him and he snapped back.
I had no idea how much the players and refs talked during a game and I'm willing to bet it's forgotten next game.
- OrrFour

It's never forgotten, even if Stewy tells you differently on this site.

This is my favorite Claude Julien moment, which happened during a Pens/Bruins game many years back:



He was yelling at the refs at the time (I don't have a link to a video of the actual game footage). I also suspect that it was a Habs fan who put this together, but I could be wrong . Boudreau, Torts, and Julien are my three favorite coaches to watch explode.

After the Bruins fired him and hired Cassidy they:
1. started playing better (among the best in the league since)
2. stopped embellishing as much (although Marchand still does sometimes - it is just in his nature)

I have to wonder how much longer Julien will be coaching the Canadiens.