BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins remained silent on Tuesday about a new coach amid reports that they had settled on former New Jersey Devils coach Claude Julien to replace Dave Lewis.
General manager Peter Chiarelli has decided on Julien, according to Canadian sports network TSN. Chiarelli did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment, and Bruins spokesman Matt Chmura said the team had nothing to announce.
Julien was 47-24-8 in his only season with the Devils before he was fired with three games left in the regular season and New Jersey leading the Atlantic Division.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he didn't think Julien had the Devils ready to make a run at the Stanley Cup. Boston would be happy just to make the postseason.
Lewis led the Bruins to a 35-41-6 record in his only season. He was fired last week, more than two months after they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Chiarelli has been on the job only 11 months, and he has already fired two coaches. Mike Sullivan was let go after Chiarelli took over as part of a major front office shakeup.
It would be the second time that the Bruins have turned to a Devils coach who was fired by New Jersey in the waning days of the regular season. Robbie Ftorek was fired by New Jersey with eight games left in the 1999-2000 season and the Devils went on to win the Stanley Cup.
He was hired by the Bruins in 2001 -- Boston's third coach in seven months -- and lasted less than two seasons before he was fired nine games before the 2003 playoffs. Whoever replaces Lewis will be the Bruins' third coach in a year.
ksully1000 
