Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien knows he almost didn't make it this far.
With a win over Chicago on Thursday, Julien tied Art Ross for the most regular-season wins as Bruins head coach with 387.
But despite winning a Stanley Cup in 2011, his job was believed to have been in jeopardy as recently as this past summer when general manager Don Sweeney took over from predecessor Peter Chiarelli.
And it wasn't the first time.
"The fact that I've avoided being fired for the last nine years here has helped me get that many wins," he said, according to Chris Mason of the Boston Herald.
One win away from setting the club record, Julien knows he's in rare air.
Julien on tying Art Ross: "The thing that comes to mind is 'humbling.' He's an icon, he's a legend."
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 4, 2016
Julien has posted a record of 387-215-85 as head coach of the Bruins, with an additional 57 playoff wins to his credit.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.