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The feeling-out process continued for new Canadiens coach Claude Julien during a fast-paced and physical practice that lasted just under an hour Monday morning in Brossard.

Julien is still getting to know his players and they’re getting to know him after he replaced the fired Michel Therrien last week.

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“He’s easy to talk to,” a very sweaty Mike McCarron said about Julien after practice. “I don’t know another word for it, but he’s not going to bull—- you. He’s going to be serious with you and he’s going to tell you how it is.”

Brian Flynn, sitting on the opposite side of the locker room, said basically the same thing.

“He seems pretty honest and very fair,” Flynn said about Julien. “If you’re going to take defence first and play the right way, it seems like you can gain his trust.”

Monday’s practice focused mainly on breakouts and coverage in the defensive zone. It included some very physical three-on-three drills with players battling for puck possession.

It’s quickly becoming obvious there’s a lot of respect for Julien in the Canadiens’ locker room. Winning a Stanley Cup — like Julien did with the Bruins in 2011 — and being part of Team Canada coaching staffs certainly helps. But the players also seem to really like Julien, which wasn’t necessarily the case with Therrien.