November 19th 2024.
The Boston Bruins made a shocking announcement on Tuesday, as they fired their head coach Jim Montgomery. Montgomery, who had been with the team for three seasons, had led them to an incredible regular season in NHL history, but unfortunately, they were never able to advance past the second round of the playoffs. The decision came after the team suffered a loss to the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets, extending their losing streak to three games.
General Manager Don Sweeney released a statement, expressing his admiration for Montgomery as a coach and as a person. However, he also acknowledged the team's inconsistency and poor performance in the first 20 games of the 2024-25 season, which ultimately led to the decision to let go of their coach. In the meantime, assistant coach Joe Sacco, who had previously led the Colorado Avalanche, will take over as the interim coach.
Sweeney expressed his confidence in Sacco's coaching experience and ability to bring the team back to their consistent and winning ways. He also reassured fans that the team will continue to work towards meeting their high expectations and making the necessary adjustments.
Montgomery's firing came as a surprise, as he had a successful track record with the team. In his first two seasons, the Bruins had finished with over 100 points each, with their debut season setting a record for the most wins and points in NHL history. However, their playoff performances fell short, and the struggles carried over into the new season, with a disappointing opening night loss and a blowout loss on Halloween.
Despite the talented roster, the Bruins have been struggling defensively, giving up 21 more goals than they have scored, making them one of the worst in the league. Star players, such as David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, have also been underperforming, leading to frustration and calls for improvement from the team.
However, the biggest issue has been the goaltending, which cannot be blamed on Montgomery. After trading away their Vezina Trophy-winning goalie, Linus Ullmark, the team was left without a clear starter. Negotiations with 25-year-old Jeremy Swayman dragged on and ultimately affected his performance in the regular season. Meanwhile, their other goalie, Jonas Korpisalo, has also struggled to fill the role.
Montgomery has had a successful career in hockey, both as a player and a coach. He led Maine to an NCAA title in 1993 and played in the NHL for six years before transitioning to coaching. He also won two U.S. junior titles and an NCAA championship with Denver before joining the Dallas Stars as their head coach.
In his first season with Dallas, Montgomery led the team to the playoffs after a three-year drought. The following season, they even made it to the Stanley Cup Final. However, he was fired after 32 games due to unprofessional conduct, which he has since admitted was a result of his struggles with alcohol. After seeking help and going through rehab, he joined the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach and eventually landed the head coaching job with the Bruins.
Montgomery replaced Bruce Cassidy, who had also been a beloved coach for the Bruins but was let go after leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. Cassidy has since found success with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning the Stanley Cup in his first season with the team.
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