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 Normal Supervisor Don Sweeney introduced at this time, 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 excellent begin within the first 20 video games of the season. With a document of 8-9-3, they sit with 19 factors and are within the closing playoff spot within the Jap Convention. So why would they hearth their head coach?
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As a result of it has not appeared fairly, there are too many inconsistencies from recreation to recreation. Defensively, this staff is underperforming beneath Montgomery, and Normal 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: “Right now, I made a really troublesome choice relating to a training change. Jim Montgomery is an excellent NHL coach and a fair higher individual. He has made a optimistic influence all through the Bruins group, and I’m each grateful and appreciative of the chance to work with him and study 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 consider 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 required changes to satisfy the usual and efficiency our supportive followers anticipate.”
?Evening Cap Recap ?
Boston Bruins Hearth 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 choice 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 influence on our group. Jim’s open and trustworthy communication with gamers, employees and administration, in addition to the optimistic perspective that he delivered to the rink day by 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 the perfect shifting ahead each personally and professionally.
I’m supportive of Don’s choice to deal with our present play and efficiency. Joe Sacco has a wealth of expertise and data of our roster and can assist lead our staff in the suitable course. He has a powerful 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 document of 120-41-23. That may 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 beneath Jim Montgomery.
41 occasions in 184 video games.
120-41-23 document 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 document 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, and so they 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 Recreation 7 in time beyond regulation after blowing a 3-1 sequence lead.
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Getting into the season with no contract extension, Montgomery was on the recent seat whether or not folks needed to confess it or not. If issues began off poorly, they may hearth a lame-duck head coach.
Should you had advised me even two months in the past that Jim Montgomery could be the primary coach fired and I might COMPLETELY agree with the choice…nearly 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 employees, and the writing was on the wall from the beginning.
The truth that Jim Montgomery was by no means allowed to rent his personal employees 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 write down the ship. He has been an affiliate/assistant coach with the Bruins since 2014.
