Julien to coach Canada, Smith an assistant at men's worlds

Claude Julien will be named head coach of Team Canada at the upcoming men's World Hockey Championship in Finland next month, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports.

Julien will be joined behind the bench by Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith, who TSN's Claire Hanna adds will be named one of Canada's assistant coaches.

Claude Julien will be named head coach. Further to @clahanna reporting. https://t.co/ZxhR5vabfs

The tournament will take place from May 13 to May 29 in Tampere and Helsinki.

Julien coached Canada's men's team at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year but missed time at the start of the tournament after sustaining fractured ribs from a fall. 

At the NHL level, Julien was fired from his second stint as Montreal Canadiens head coach last February. In addition to one season at the helm of the New Jersey Devils, Julien coached the Boston Bruins from 2007 to 2017 and owns a career NHL record of 667-445-10-152. His Bruins tenure was highlighted by a Stanley Cup victory over the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.

Hearing that #Sens HC DJ Smith will be named one of Canada’s assistant coaches for the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Finland

Smith took over as Sens head coach to begin the 2019-20 season and has guided the team to a 28-40-7 record so far this year. He told reporters over the weekend that he would welcome a chance to be on Canada's staff at the 2022 men's worlds. 

The 44-year-old owns a 76-102-24 record across three NHL seasons in Ottawa.