Bruins fire GM Chiarelli 4 years after Stanley Cup; coach Claude Julien safe 'at this time'

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, right, speaks alongside head coach Claude Julien at a news conference at TD Garden Monday, April 13, 2015, in Boston. The Bruins failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes) (The Associated Press)

Boston Bruins President Cam Neely, left, and Bruins Chief Executive Officer Charlie Jacobs prepare to leave a news conference in Boston, Wednesday, April 15, 2015, regarding the hockey team's decision to fire general manager Peter Chiarelli days after missing the NHL playoffs for the first time in eight years. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

The Boston Bruins have fired general manager Peter Chiarelli.

The move comes after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. It's just four seasons since the Bruins won the Stanley Cup; they returned to the NHL Finals two years ago.

The statement from the team Wednesday said coach Claude Julien and the rest of his staff "will remain in place at this time."

Chiarelli built the Bruins for nine years. In 2011, they won the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years. They got back two years later and lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

But this year they were eliminated from the playoff race on the final day of the regular season.