Claude Julien, the former Boston Bruins head coach and the only coach to lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup title in the past 54 years, is currently guiding the Zurich Lions in Switzerland’s National League. Now 66, Julien began this season with the Lions holding a perfect 7-0-0 record and playing in front of enthusiastic crowds at the Swiss Life Arena, which typically reaches capacity with around 12,000 supporters.
Julien, who spent much of his coaching career in North America—including a recent stint as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues before being released last spring—has settled into life in Zurich. His family remains in Ottawa but is expected to join him for the 2027-28 season, with plans to experience Swiss culture and schooling. Julien described Zurich as a safe, welcoming city where locals are polite and children independently use public transit to attend school.
The coaching veteran has embraced a different rhythm in Switzerland, where the National League offers a lighter game and practice schedule with nearly two days off each week. Travel demands are less strenuous as well; all away games require bus trips no longer than four hours, allowing players to return home the same night rather than staying in hotels. The larger Olympic-sized ice surface adds a new dimension to play but has not forced major strategic changes for Julien, who noted similarities with North American hockey styles, including a highly aggressive forecheck. “It’s a very aggressive forecheck, so not a league with guys just sitting back in the neutral zone,” he said.
Julien’s familiarity with Swiss hockey dates back to a consulting role with Ambri-Piotta four years ago, giving him insight into the league’s style and development. Switzerland’s strong international showings in recent IIHF World Championships—reaching the finals in 2024, 2025, and 2026—illustrate the country’s hockey progress.
Zurich’s roster features several players with NHL experience but few current stars recognizable to casual North American fans. Defensemen Yannick Weber and Mikko Lehtonen, along with forward Sven Andrighetto, have NHL backgrounds, while young forward Simon Knak is a Nashville Predators draft pick. Denis Malgin, a Swiss-born center with NHL experience for Florida, Toronto, and Colorado, leads the team in points. Julien noted that older players have generally accepted that their NHL opportunities have passed, while younger players remain hopeful for future recognition in North America.
Among the league’s promising talents is 17-year-old forward Jonah Neuenschwander of Biel-Bienne, viewed as a top candidate in next year’s NHL Draft, and Nashville defenseman Roman Josi, widely regarded as Switzerland’s premier NHL player. Julien himself played a pivotal role in shaping the early career of Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, who achieved much of his defensive excellence under Julien’s coaching.
Julien plans to return to Boston on Dec. 1 to witness the retirement ceremony for Bergeron’s No. 37 jersey, having accepted a personal invitation from Bergeron. While open to future NHL opportunities, Julien remains content with his current role in Switzerland, appreciating the competitive league and balance it allows between hockey and lifestyle. “A 52-game schedule, sleep in your own bed every night—it’s really gold hockey. It’s fun, and I’m enjoying the hockey as much as the lifestyle,” he said.