Canadiens' Julien expected to fully recover following heart procedure
Claude Julien is headed home.
The Canadiens head coach will travel to Montreal on Friday after undergoing the stenting of a coronary artery at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital on Thursday afternoon, the team announced.
Doctors expect Julien to make a full recovery.
The 60-year-old was taken to hospital Wednesday night after experiencing chest pains, which Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin made clear had nothing to do with COVID-19.
Bergevin said Thursday afternoon that associate coach Kirk Muller would assume head coaching duties, and the club doesn't expect Julien back during its first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
On Friday, Muller relayed a conversation he had with Julien on Thursday night.
#Habs Muller says he spoke with Julien last night and described hearing relief in CJ’s voice. They talked hockey and Muller described Julien as “fired up” about today’s game.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) August 14, 2020
Julien is in his second stint with the Canadiens, who rehired him in 2016-17.
Before rejoining Montreal, he spent parts of 10 seasons behind the Boston Bruins' bench, guiding them to a championship in 2011. Julien also served as the New Jersey Devils' bench boss in 2006-07 after leading the Canadiens during his first three seasons as an NHL head coach.