The St. Louis Blues made one other teaching change nearly a yr in the past once they fired Craig Berube. Nonetheless, this time, the Blues fired Berube’s alternative, Drew Bannister, in favor of Jim Montgomery, a not too long ago fired coach from Boston.
NHL Information: Boston Bruins Hearth Head Coach Jim Montgomery
5 days in the past, the Bruins group let Montgomery go, and there have been rumblings about the place he may land. Possibly he could be an assistant with a group in his hometown. However most speculated he could be behind the bench once more as the top man.
No person thought it will be this fast. Drew Bannister acquired 22 video games because the Blues’ official head coach. Bear in mind, when he took over, basic supervisor Doug Armstrong solely made Bannister the interim head coach. Whereas the Blues fell wanting the playoffs by six factors, Armstrong most likely thought Bannister was not the man.
So it begs the query and makes you marvel if the Blues wished Jim Montgomery all alongside. Given what Armstrong mentioned yesterday, it is smart in the event you actually give it some thought.
This goes again to final spring. Once more, it doesn’t really feel like Bannister was the man as a result of Armstrong wished a veteran coach in there from the beginning. However that man didn’t turn into obtainable. Whether or not it was Mike Sullivan from Pittsburgh, Montgomery from Boston, Gerard Gallant, Jay Woodcroft, or Todd McLellan, Armstrong wished a veteran man there.
Nice to see that he acquired a long run deal w/ the Blues. you nearly marvel if the Blues wished a veteran coach like a Sullivan had #letsgopens made a transfer on the finish of final yr. Hypothesis by me however you marvel w/ this transfer. #stlblues @myNHLTradeRumor @FullPressNHL @TheRGMedia https://t.co/GeGcRQXulH
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) November 24, 2024
There was hypothesis that the Blues had been eyeing Montgomery relationship again to the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round playoff sequence towards the Bruins. Had Boston not received Sport 7 in additional time, the sensation was that Jim Montgomery could be fired, and St. Louis would rent him.
NHL Rumors: Did the Boston Bruins Need To Lengthen Jim Montgomery
The timeline of occasions is smart. Drew Bannister was promoted to full-time coach on Could eighth, three days after the Bruins beat the Maple Leafs. Montgomery saved his job in the intervening time.
Then the minute the man you need is fired, you begin working the telephones to get him there. So it was clear from the beginning that Armstrong wished Montgomery. Plus, Armstrong had some alternative phrases about his admiration for Montgomery and what he may do at Sunday’s press convention.
Military: “Once I wakened Wednesday morning, there was no inclination to make a training change. When Jim acquired let go in Boston, (he) definitely was somebody I’ve revered, somebody I admired, somebody I felt had all of the attributes to be a long-term coach for the Blues. (MORE)
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) November 24, 2024
Military: “This was extra of a possibility to get somebody of Jim’s caliber than anything. This resolution was primarily based, I might say, nearly 100% on having somebody of Jim’s caliber turn into obtainable once I didn’t know that was going to occur.” #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) November 24, 2024
Evidently NHL Common Managers today are being extra trustworthy. Armstrong felt he wanted somebody like Jim Montgomery to show the Blues round, however the timing was odd and unusual. Once more, it makes you marvel.
Virtually makes you marvel concerning the reviews earlier and what I needed to say a few veteran coach. They wished him again in Could and this solely confirms it. If Boston misplaced Monty most likely a St Louis Blue within the spring and never now #stlblues @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor @TheRGMedia https://t.co/WjFYz4kDVQ
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) November 24, 2024
There have been reviews that Montgomery and the Bruins had been engaged on a deal. Once more, particulars of what the deal was or wouldn’t have been outlined, however the Bruins didn’t wish to provide him a long-term deal. That questions whether or not Boston wished to maintain Jim Montgomery as their head coach. And did Montgomery actually wish to stick with no say within the roster and coaches?
It appears like Bannister didn’t get a good shake with a roster that suffered losses to Philip Broberg and Robert Thomas. The goaltending has been subpar currently, however this roster and group of gamers nearly made the playoffs final season.
NHL Rumors: St. Louis Blues, and the Chicago Blackhawks
Was it the coach’s fault, or did the final supervisor’s essential goal from final yr turn into obtainable and he swooped in to get the man he wished? It feels just like the latter in order that he may have Jim Montgomery and Claude Julien on the bench.
If the reviews are proper, Bannister simply stored the seat heat till Doug Armstrong may discover Jim Montgomery. He did, and now he has his man for 5 years.
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