Boston Bruins Fire General Manager Peter Chiarelli After Missing Playoffs

The Boston Bruins have fired general manager Peter Chiarelli after the team missed the postseason for the first time in eight seasons. Coach Claude Julien’s position is also under threat, although, the decision to fire him will be taken by Chiarelli’s successor, ESPN reports.

Chiarelli was appointed general manager in 2006 and was responsible for putting together the Bruins’ Stanley Cup winning side of 2011, their first championship in 39 years. They also reached the 2013 Stanley Cup finals, where they were beaten by the Chicago Blackhawks. They finished with the highest regular season points total last year to win the President’s Cup, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals. The team had a 41-27-14 record this season and a 386-233-85 overall record under his tenure, during which they also reached the playoffs seven times.

The Bruins finished two points outside off a playoff spot after losing the last three games of their season. That was quite according to script in a season full of highs and lows, in which they had streaks like five straight wins followed by six straight losses. The season ending three game losing streak was preceded by a five game winning streak.

Team CEO had claimed at the time of his appointment in January that missing the playoffs would be completely unacceptable and a complete failure for the team. And the fallout of that failure is already being seen with Chiarelli’s departure. Amateur scout and Peter Chiarelli’s brother Mike has also been fired, along with Denis Leblanc and Jukka Holtari, the head scout in Europe.

"This was not an easy decision. I have a great deal of respect for Peter and what he's accomplished here. I can't thank him enough for [the Stanley Cup title in] 2011 and the ride that that was, but we felt it was time to move on," said Jacobs in a press conference.

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