Why Julien should lead Golden Knights' list of candidates

With one situation muddled further, another has perhaps become unclouded.

As the final preparations were being made for Boston's Super Bowl parade Tuesday, the local hockey club instructed its coach to stop doing his job, terminating the contract of the longest-tenured bench boss in the NHL, Claude Julien.

Though it seemingly became inevitable, the Bruins' decision is curious. Because for his part, Julien has extracted results from rosters with a wide breadth of overall talent throughout his 10-year tenure with the Bruins.

This hasn't been more evident than it is right now.

Got the puck

Boston is the NHL's top possession team, swaying shot attempts at upwards of 56 percent. This isn't a product of meticulous roster construction on the part of Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, and the rest of Bruins management.

In fact, the argument can be made Julien's scheme is thriving in spite of it.

Best with what he's got

Boston's still in the midst of suffering the consequences of previous success that has forced the club to make many difficult decisions with its assets since Julien steered the organization to a Stanley Cup in 2011. Coin flips and questionable decisions have had a detrimental impact on the foundation of the roster.

But many front office failings and the hemorrhaging of assets for the last decade hasn't undercut the program, because Julien's design has kept them competitive on a nightly basis.

What has finally led to his undoing in this results-focused business after two seasons on the outside of the postseason bracket, however, is another, more destructive factor beyond his control: a ruinous combined save and shooting percentage.

Bad luck

Boston sports an NHL-worst 96.68 PDO, which, in a way, flatters its current seeding in the East. The club leads the league in total shots on target, but is converting at a historically low percentage, and Tuukka Rask's uncharacteristic struggles are being intensified by management's inability to support their world-class starter with capable help.

Terrible luck. It's ultimately why Julien's without work.

Fortuity, however, works both ways.

Go west?

With Julien unemployed (though still technically under contract with Boston for another season beyond this), the Vegas Golden Knights now have an absolute embarrassment of riches when it comes to coaching candidates to vet.

And while the other three NHL bench bosses fired this year - Gerard Gallant, Jack Capuano, and Ken Hitchcock - are qualified to spearhead the expansion program, none have built up the same level of cachet as Julien in the post-lockout era.

Technical, successful, and respected. Julien would tick off all the boxes for the Golden Knights, and make the expansion market an even more desirable destination for NHL talent - both on the ice and inside operations.