Confirmed with Link: Bannister Out, Monty In

[Linkens Mastery]

Blues relieve Drew Bannister of coaching duties; hire Jim Montgomery as Head Coach | St. Louis Blues

Montgomery signs five-year contract to become 28th Head Coach In franchise history

www.nhl.com

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[Mike Liut]

There goes the tank.

 

[Reality Czech]

Ask and ye shall receive. Credit to Army for being proactive and ownership for biting the bullet financially when they didn't have to. Let's see if this breathes new life into the season.

5-year deal wow. Talk about a commitment.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Although I am happy with have Monty back as the coach, I wish this could have happened last offseason. I feel bad for Bannister. We’ve been terrible this year but this is probably his one big shot and we just tossed him aside after 20 games as the full time head coach.

At least he’s getting two years of NHL salary so hopefully that will take some of the sting off.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I didn’t think they’d do it!

I love having Montgomery, but I hope we aren’t starting him too early.

This makes me think there was a quiet plan to hire Montgomery for a couple years now, and Bannister was ALWAYS just a temp. He probably still appreciated the chance to get some visibility and maybe earn another NHL job, but I doubt that happens.

This also makes me think Dvorsky will get called up for significant time this season.

 

[TheOrganist]

Ya boiiiiiii. Great development.

 

[Brian39]

I'm not nearly as down on Bannister as most were, but I'm happy about this. I view this move as "getting your guy" rather than being an indictment on Bannister. Monty has a hell of a resume and our front office already knows him well.

I wonder what's next for Bannister. He's grinded a career largely away from his family and I'm happy for him that he at least turned an interim position into some real financial security for his family.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Damn! I really didn’t think they’d move quickly like this! Excellent move!

Bannister was out of his depth at the pro level.

 

[SirPaste]

This is great news. It makes all the sense in the world but I was skeptical it would actually happen. Sucks for Bannister but let’s be honest he’s a pretty shitty coach and has done a terrible job in helping to develop the kids which is what he’s supposed to be good at

 

[Reality Czech]

I didn’t think they’d do it!

I love having Montgomery, but I hope we aren’t starting him too early.

This makes me think there was a quiet plan to hire Montgomery for a couple years now, and Bannister was ALWAYS just a temp. He probably still appreciated the chance to get some visibility and maybe earn another NHL job, but I doubt that happens.

This also makes me think Dvorsky will get called up for significant time this season.

I'm guessing they knew it was now or likely never. Of course it was Monty's call whether to take the rest of the year off or get back to work right now, but I'm guessing the Blues felt they'd miss their chance if they didn't act now. It's a nice bit of positive news with the way things have been going lately.

 

[TheOrganist]

I'm not nearly as down on Bannister as most were, but I'm happy about this. I view this move as "getting your guy" rather than being an indictment on Bannister. Monty has a hell of a resume and our front office already knows him well.

I wonder what's next for Bannister. He's grinded a career largely away from his family and I'm happy for him that he at least turned an interim position into some real financial security for his family.

Exactly. An unexpected development occurred (no one thought Monty would be dumped 20 games into the season…it would happen if they lost in the round of the playoffs or something similar)…I think everyone in the organization was prepared to let this ride out until the summer until the Monty situation. Armstrong is nothing if not aggressive in these situations.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

Well Monty won't have the frontrunning greatest season in NHL history to cloud his perception of your team. Monty and Clode, a B's reject two-fer

Best of luck Monty, you're a good guy. I don't know if you're good coach as your cupboard was stacked in Boston for the last 2 years.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm glad we gave Bannister a 2 year deal, knowing this was a possibility. It's sucks how it turned out, but he did get a massive financial boost and a chance to stick in the NHL somewhere as an assistant.

 

[Reality Czech]

Well Monty won't have the frontrunning greatest season in NHL history to cloud his perception of your team. Monty and Clode, a B's reject two-fer

Best of luck Monty, you're a good guy. I don't know if you're good coach as your cupboard was stacked in Boston for the last 2 years.

Thanks for Monty and 2019.

 

[TheOrganist]

Also credit to Tom “da Wallett” Stillman for continuing to open the checkbook. I’m sure this wasn’t cheap and that’s a long term for a coach in this league. Dude cares.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

Thanks for Monty and 2019.

your most welcome for 2019, epic underdog story. You might want to hold your breath on Monty

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Mildly surprised it happened, figured we’d just ride out the year with Bannister. But if you can get your guy, you do it.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Yep, that's another thing. I remember people being concerned about our ability to spend after some of the comments from early off-season or how we acknowledged a transition period, but between this and offer-sheets, ownership is clearly willing to spend the money that supports what Army and Steen are wanting to do.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I'm wondering if this makes Ott want out. 3rd time he's been passed up for the Head Coach job.

 

[SirPaste]

I'm wondering if this makes Ott want out. 3rd time he's been passed up for the Head Coach job.

I doubt it, Ott’s not stupid he knows it was Monty they wanted all along just like we all did. And let’s be honest Julien probably already skipped ahead of him in line as well. Not sure Ott will ever get head coaching gig even though JR was really trying to hype him up a few years back. He’s not even being interviewed at all by other teams when they have openings

 

[TheOrganist]

I'm wondering if this makes Ott want out. 3rd time he's been passed up for the Head Coach job.

I don’t think it’ll happen now but I could see him leaving the organization this summer. Which is fine. If I’m not mistaken Montgomery didn’t have a say in hiring his assistant coaches. Sacco had been there since 2014.

 

[mk80]

What a way to start the day with this news!

I’m very glad to see us get our guy in Monty. This move will pay off for us not only in the short term but long term as well, I view it exactly the same as the Payne for Hitch move.

I'm wondering if this makes Ott want out. 3rd time he's been passed up for the Head Coach job.

I think that could be a possibility, also maybe Claude Julien too who has a huge resume himself. But I think it would also allow us to build Montgomery’s staff. On the flip side maybe Ott sees how often head coaches are hired and fired in today’s NHL and the would rather keep a more stable assistant spot.

 

[MissouriMook]

I’m getting a bit of a flashback to the early 70s and the Solomon era where they changed head coaches at least once a year. I had to look back to see that it was mid-December last year when Berube was fired, so Bannister didn’t even last a full year.

 

[stl76]

Wow! Did not expect this but definitely exciting. After Buchys comments last night it felt like something had to give…wow!

 

[Mike Liut]

The tank is over. They’ll finish a few games over .500 this year and make a WC next year.