The Boston Bruins introduced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve fired head coach Jim Montgomery and are changing him with affiliate coach Joe Sacco on an interim foundation.
Boston Bruins Basic Supervisor Don Sweeney introduced in the present day, November 19, that the staff has relieved Jim Montgomery of his duties as Head Coach.
Affiliate Coach Joe Sacco will assume interim head teaching duties.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 19, 2024
The Bruins haven’t been off to an awesome begin within the first 20 video games of the season. With a file of 8-9-3, they sit with 19 factors and are within the last playoff spot within the Japanese Convention. So why would they hearth their head coach?
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As a result of it has not regarded fairly, there are too many inconsistencies from sport to sport. Defensively, this staff is underperforming below Montgomery, and Basic Supervisor Don Sweeney felt it was finest to make a change and believes interim head coach Joe Sacco can flip issues round.
Don Sweeney in a press release: “At this time, I made a really tough determination relating to a training change. Jim Montgomery is an excellent NHL coach and a good higher individual. He has made a constructive impression all through the Bruins group, and I’m each grateful and appreciative of the chance to work with him and be taught from him.
Our staff’s inconsistency and efficiency within the first 20 video games of the 2024-25 season has been regarding and under how the Bruins need to reward our followers. I imagine Joe Sacco has the teaching expertise to convey the gamers and the staff again to specializing in the constant effort the NHL requires to have success. We are going to proceed to work to make the mandatory changes to fulfill the usual and efficiency our supportive followers count on.”
?Evening Cap Recap ?
Boston Bruins Fireplace Jim Montgomery #nhlbruins @bodkins_nick @bigapplehockey @MurphysLaw74 pic.twitter.com/Fi1o9K22PL
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) November 19, 2024
As well as, President of Hockey Operations Cam Neely supported his normal supervisor’s determination and felt a brand new voice would assist the staff.
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Cam Neely in a press release: “On behalf of the Boston Bruins, we thank Jim Montgomery for his accomplishments and impression on our group. Jim’s open and sincere communication with gamers, workers and administration, in addition to the constructive angle that he dropped at the rink day-after-day, helped lead our franchise to a number of on-ice accolades, together with a historic 65-win season in 2022-23. We want Jim and his household one of the best transferring ahead each personally and professionally.
I’m supportive of Don’s determination to handle our present play and efficiency. Joe Sacco has a wealth of expertise and data of our roster and may help lead our staff in the precise path. He has a robust understanding of our requirements and expectations, and I belief he’ll do all he can to perform our group’s objectives this season.”
Should you take a look at what Montgomery did in Boston, he has a file of 120-41-23. That could be a .715 successful share. That’s actually good for 3 seasons as an NHL head coach.
In 184 video games, the #NHLBruins misplaced simply 41 occasions in regulation below Jim Montgomery.
41 occasions in 184 video games.
120-41-23 file for .715 factors share.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 19, 2024
Bear in mind, he took over proper earlier than the 2022-23 season, the place he changed Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy was fired by the Bruins after which went to the Vegas Golden Knights, successful the Stanley Cup in his first season.
Final two Bruins head coaches:
Bruce Cassidy…245-108-46 (.672 P% & .614 W%).
Jim Montgomery… 120-41-23 (.715P% & .656W%).Montgomery had finest file in NHL, however was canned. Cassidy 2nd finest in his time.
What goes in Boston? #NHL— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) November 19, 2024
Jim Montgomery received the Jack Adams Award in his first season with the Bruins, they usually additionally received the President’s Trophy that season. It’s loopy how issues work for coaches who win the award.
In Could 2023, the NHL introduced its finalists for the Jack Adams as coach of the yr: Jim Montgomery, Dave Hakstol and Lindy Ruff.
Simply 18 months later, all three have since been fired.
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) November 19, 2024
The Bruins made it to the second spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs final season, however they misplaced to the Florida Panthers in six video games. Within the first spherical, they beat their rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The yr earlier than, the Bruins misplaced to the Panthers in Spherical 1 in Sport 7 in extra time after blowing a 3-1 sequence lead.
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Coming into the season with no contract extension, Montgomery was on the new seat whether or not individuals needed to confess it or not. If issues began off poorly, they might hearth a lame-duck head coach.
Should you had advised me even two months in the past that Jim Montgomery can be the primary coach fired and I’d COMPLETELY agree with the choice…virtually unfathomable. That’s how poorly this season has gone
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 19, 2024
Add in the truth that he didn’t get to rent his personal workers, and the writing was on the wall from the beginning.
The truth that Jim Montgomery was by no means allowed to rent his personal workers was at all times a nasty signal for his future with the #NHLBruins. @sickpodnhl
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) November 19, 2024
Joe Sacco is available in to jot down the ship. He has been an affiliate/assistant coach with the Bruins since 2014.
