Julien: 'My health is 100%'

MONTREAL - Claude Julien is feeling great.

The Canadiens head coach addressed the media via conference call on Wednesday for the first time since a medical incident forced him out of Montreal's first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Julien experienced a cardiac episode, telling reporters that he woke up feeling chest pains during the night after the Habs' 2-1 loss to the Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
After consulting with head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend in person and head team physician Dr. David Mulder over the phone, Julien was transported by ambulance to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, where doctors stented a coronary artery.
The coach headed home to Montreal to rest following the procedure, but noted in his call that his recovery was so quick that he would've made his way back to Ontario to rejoin the team had the Canadiens forced a Game 7 against Philadelphia.
"I've recovered well, to the point that if we won Game 6 on Friday, I would've headed back to the bubble in Toronto on Saturday," asserted Julien. "I feel good. I had a scare that turned out well in the end. I'm ready to come back at 100%."

Julien's return at any point during the playoffs had been doubtful - the team had announced he was not expected back before the end of the Flyers series at the earliest - but with the coach's latest declarations, any lingering questions about his future beyond the 2020 playoffs have now been put to rest.
"Health and family are always the priority. But I'm very comfortable with my return, and my family is too," added the coach. "My health is 100%; there's no reason why I couldn't be back behind the bench or be afraid of anything."
The Habs bench boss received an outpouring of concern from the team, the NHL, the wider hockey world, and the Montreal community as he battled through the ordeal, and it goes without saying that meant the world to the 17-year veteran.

"I really appreciated all the support; it helped me recover. Whether it was from the coaches, people from the League, or elsewhere, it was incredible," concluded Julien. "I'd like to thank everyone for helping me get through this."