Canadiens coach Claude Julien ‘feeling great,’ will return next season

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien and players Max Domi (13), Artturi Lehkonen (62), Jordan Weal (43) and Ryan Poehling look on from the bench during third period NHL hockey action against the Edmonton Oilers. (Graham Hughes/CP)

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien announced Wednesday that he’s feeling great after his health scare earlier this month and will “absolutely” be back behind the bench next season.

Julien left the Toronto bubble earlier this month following a brief hospitalization for chest pains. He returned home to Montreal, with associate coach Kirk Muller taking over head coaching duties in his place.

He told reporters that he feels “100 per cent” and that he would’ve been back with the team this summer, had Montreal managed to push their first-round series against the Philadelphia beyond Game 6.

Julien was rushed to the hospital following Game 1 against the Flyers. The team announced shortly after that he was returning to Montreal to rest following the stenting of a coronary artery, and that doctors expected a full recovery.

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