For those who’re a Blues fan with out web then chances are you’ll not have heard that the crew made a fairly shocking transfer in the present day by relieving head coach Drew Bannister of his duties and instantly changing him with a well-known face: Jim Montgomery, who simply acquired fired by Boston lower than per week in the past.
The transfer got here as a fairly sudden one throughout the league, as Drew Bannister has been serviceable in his brief time with the Blues since taking on halfway by final season for Craig Berube. After taking on final season, the Blues had the twelfth finest factors % within the league (primarily if that they had that tempo your entire season, the Blues are within the postseason). Nevertheless what makes this transfer much less shocking is the time period I used within the first sentence of this paragraph: serviceable. Perhaps not this season, and possibly not subsequent season both, however Doug Armstrong/Alex Steen/proprietor Tom Stillman should not attempting to construct a serviceable hockey franchise. When the Blues inked Bannister to a brief extension this summer time, I took it as two potentialities.
- Bannister shocks the world and takes this crew to deep playoff runs (with this roster that’d be a miracle).
- He retains the Blues as a center of the pack crew and helps develop younger expertise, one thing he’s confirmed to be first rate at, and is principally a bridge man for when the Blues are able to contend once more.
Now the ladder possibility right here ought to’ve nonetheless given Bannister job safety for the following 2 seasons, nevertheless when Boston fired among the best coaches in hockey that sadly modified for him. Right here’s some #’s from stat man Pat on Monty:
-when he was Assistant Coach for the Blues from 2020-2022 he was in command of the ability play. In that point the Blues had a high 3 energy play within the league, a division they at the moment rank twenty ninth for this season below Bannister.
-when Monty was coach of the Dallas stars they a Stanley Cup contender, taking our Blues to double OT in recreation 7 of the 2nd spherical in 2019 (personally I believe the Stars beat San Jose identical to we did, then who is aware of towards that loaded Boston crew we by some means beat).
-in his first season for Boston they broke the all time report for wins in an everyday season, factors in an everyday season, and received the Jack Adams award for the NHL’s coach of the yr.
To place this into non-hockey phrases, let’s fake the Blues are a fantastic good lady that was with an incredible gentleman of a person (Craig Berube). Let’s name this lady Gloria, for no specific motive.
They sadly break up regardless of some superb years collectively, as a result of on this world love isn’t even actual exterior of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Full of life.
Shortly after the breakup, Gloria begins courting a pleasant candy harmless man named Drew (Bannister).
Issues are going simply fantastic, nevertheless all of the sudden some of the wanted males in Hollywood goes by a nasty public divorce and is available in the market for a brand new associate.
Everyone knows what occurs subsequent…
The truth is I believe Drew Bannister is a serviceable, stable coach that I wouldn’t be shocked if he acquired one other job elsewhere within the league quickly.
Nevertheless when a high tier coach within the league, who is aware of STL (Monty’s spouse is from right here), is already accustomed to the group, and has confirmed to take groups to new heights, turns into obtainable you can not move it up.
That is an superior transfer by Doug Armstrong and Steen in the present day, between Monty being our coach within the coming years and Steen heading up GM duties subsequent yr the Blues are setting themselves up for fulfillment beginning quickly and long run which is a refreshing really feel from the previous two abysmal seasons.
