St. Louis Blues Hire Surprising Candidate to Lead the Team

In a surprising twist, former Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery didn’t stay unemployed for long. Just five days after being let go by the Bruins, Montgomery has found a new home as the 28th head coach in St. Louis Blues history. The Blues made the announcement following their decision to part ways with Drew Bannister, who had been leading the team since 2022.

Montgomery, 55, spent just over two seasons in Boston, where he made an immediate impact. During his tenure, the Montreal native helped guide the Bruins to an NHL-best regular-season record, setting a new benchmark for points. Under his leadership, the Bruins posted one of the most dominant regular seasons in recent memory, including a Presidents’ Trophy win in 2022-23. Montgomery’s Bruins also made consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024, solidifying his reputation as a successful and adaptive coach.

Before joining the Bruins, Montgomery had a brief but significant history with the Blues, having served as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2022. This familiarity with the organization likely played a role in St. Louis’ decision to bring him back into the fold, and he is now tasked with rejuvenating a Blues team that has been struggling this season.

A Fresh Start in St. Louis

The Blues are currently sitting at a disappointing 9-12-1 record following a loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. This subpar start to the season prompted the team to make a change behind the bench. In hiring Montgomery, the Blues are hoping to infuse new life into a roster that has underperformed in 2024.

Montgomery’s track record with the Bruins speaks volumes about his ability to turn teams around, and the Blues are banking on his leadership to help them compete in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Western Conference. While it’s been a tough season so far for the Blues, Montgomery’s success in Boston proves he knows how to manage talent and elevate a team, especially when it counts the most.

The Bruins’ Coaching Tree

Montgomery’s swift exit from the Bruins and subsequent hiring by the Blues adds to a growing trend of former Boston head coaches finding new roles quickly. Just last year, former Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was snapped up by the Vegas Golden Knights only eight days after his departure. Meanwhile, Claude Julien, who coached the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011, was hired by Montreal a mere seven days after his firing, and is now an assistant coach with St. Louis.

This trend of former Bruins coaches quickly landing new positions only highlights the caliber of leadership coming out of Boston’s coaching ranks. Whether it’s Montgomery’s strong performance with the Bruins or Cassidy’s success in Vegas (where he led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup), it’s clear that the Boston coaching staff is a hotbed of talent.

What’s Next for the Bruins?

While the Blues’ new chapter begins under Montgomery’s leadership, the Bruins now face the challenge of moving forward without him. The team has promoted Joe Sacco to interim head coach, and Boston is currently 10-9-3 after a hard-fought win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. While Sacco has big shoes to fill, Bruins fans remain hopeful that the team can continue to compete at a high level despite the coaching change.

In the end, Montgomery’s swift hiring by the Blues only serves as a testament to his coaching acumen and adaptability. For St. Louis, the hope is that he can bring the same success and stability he had in Boston, as they look to right the ship and become a contender once again. As for Montgomery, it’s a fresh start in a new city, and he’s ready for the challenge.