Jim Montgomery Returns to St. Louis Blues: “A No-Brainer”
NEW YORK — It was a homecoming of sorts for Jim Montgomery, and he couldn’t have been more thrilled. Standing in front of reporters at Madison Square Garden on Monday, the new head coach of the St. Louis Blues sported a dark blue sweatshirt proudly displaying the team’s iconic blue note logo. His excitement was palpable.
“Crazy — there’s no other word for it,” Montgomery said, reflecting on his whirlwind week. Less than seven days ago, he was fired by the Boston Bruins. Now, he’s back with the Blues, a team he previously served as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2022. “I have worked with over half this lineup already, and I know how committed they are. For me, this was a no-brainer to come back home.”
Blues Face an Uphill Battle
Montgomery steps into a challenging situation. The Blues, who missed the playoffs last season, are off to a rocky start this year with a 9-12-1 record. Their offensive struggles are glaring: only two teams in the league have scored fewer than their 2.36 goals per game. Special teams haven’t been much better, as they rank in the bottom third of the NHL in both power play and penalty kill efficiency.
But Monday night offered a glimmer of hope. In Montgomery’s debut behind the bench, the Blues secured a much-needed 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Third-period goals from Brayden Schenn, Dylan Holloway, and Pavel Buchnevich sealed the win, giving fans a reason to believe in the team’s potential turnaround.
Montgomery’s Proven Track Record
Montgomery’s resume speaks for itself. He guided the Bruins to a record-breaking 65-win, 135-point season in 2022-23, earning him the NHL’s Coach of the Year honors. When he became available, Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong wasted no time in making his move.
“When you get a phone call and you hear Doug Armstrong’s plan and how you’re a big part of it, that makes you feel it is the right place to go,” Montgomery said. “The best line that put his hooks into me is, ‘When something delicious falls on my plate, I eat.’ I don’t know. I guess I was a T-bone that day.”
Montgomery’s coaching pedigree is undeniable. Every NHL team he’s coached for a full season has made the playoffs, and his .659 points percentage ranks among the best in league history. Despite the Blues’ current struggles, Montgomery is optimistic about the team’s potential.
“I believe in this group,” he said. “It’s not easy to make the playoffs in this league. Half the teams miss it. But I do think that in time this is a caliber playoff team.”
A Fresh Start in St. Louis
Montgomery’s tenure with the Bruins ended abruptly last Tuesday after the team dropped 12 of their first 20 games this season. While his regular-season success in Boston was undeniable—120 wins in 184 games—playoff success eluded him, with the Bruins managing only a first-round series win over Toronto last spring.
His first NHL head coaching job with the Dallas Stars ended in December 2019 due to unprofessional conduct. However, Armstrong saw Montgomery’s potential and brought him to St. Louis in 2020 as an assistant coach under Craig Berube. Now, Montgomery has a fresh five-year contract and a mandate to return the Blues to the NHL’s elite.
“He’s one of those coaches that I really do believe can be with this team now and as it grows,” Armstrong said. “The proof of that is the five-year commitment. One of the things I think is the next part for Jim’s career is to get that longevity in one spot.”
Looking Ahead
For Montgomery, leaving Boston wasn’t easy, but he’s choosing to focus on the opportunities ahead. “I’m a firm believer that when one door closes, another one opens if you do the right thing,” he said. “It’s about your relationships in life. … The five-year deal shows the commitment of Tom Stillman and the ownership group, that we are in this together.”
With Montgomery at the helm, the Blues are hoping to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs. If Monday night’s performance is any indication, the team may be on the right track.
- Montgomery’s .659 points percentage ranks among the best in NHL history.
- He led the Bruins to a record-setting 65-win season in 2022-23.
- Every team he’s coached for a full season has made the playoffs.
As the Blues look to climb out of their early-season slump, all eyes will be on Montgomery to see if he can work his magic once again.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
