Management Jim Montgomery 2: Trouble in Paradise?

[nORRis8]

If Marchand is cooked then this team is missing the playoffs.

He seemed cooked last year plus he truly misses Bergeron.
That and with injuries....Id say this is his last year. He's going to hang up the boots.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

Dude they’re never going to hire Q after all that. And they shouldn’t. No one should.

I get you and I wouldn't and I'd expect them not to, but there has been talk about him returning to the league. It wouldn't be the first time someone got an "I've changed and learned" chance.

It'll be Leach.

 

[Hookslide]

Got elias lindholm I'm ok with that pickup. 8 years of solid 2 way hockey.

I am not good with this guy with that contract, but thankfully it is 7 years and not 8 years.

 

[JAD]

This is not all inclusive but someone asked me what disturbing trends i had see energing over the last couple of years in spite of the team success the last two seasons ... (some aspects I covered in other posts and will try not to repeat here other than for continuity purposes). Feel free to disagree this is just an opinion through observation, not a fact.

Two years ago the Bruins had a veteran and very deep team lineup combined with some rising star young players.
The team was pretty much loaded.
Montgomery was brought in to be a player’s coach.
Montgomery pretty much let the players play. Montgomery was along for the ride, more of a goodwill ambassador with an uptempo freestyle quick transition game plan.
The majority of the players on that team already knew how to play defense and knew the importance of defensive zone coverage. - (This is an important fact as many of the players on the team had learned defensive positioning under Cassidy who had worked with Julian and a few more under the direct direction of Julian - it can not be overlooked.)

I credit the players for the regular season success.
In the playoffs when the team needed a coach to have a strategic game plan and make the hard decisions he came up short with many rumors he (Montgomery) deferred to the players judgment.
Why not, letting players have a say worked all season.

That team never should have lost to Florida.
Not because of their regular record but because of the team's depth, talent, skill and experience.
Imo it was because of a lack of leadership in decisiveness and strategic adaptation in the playoffs by the coach.

Last year many key veteran players were gone from the roster.
Still playing an up tempo quick transition freestyle game plan.
Cracks in team's defensive structure began to emerge throughout the season.
The team was carried again by strong goaltending covering for defensive lapses.
The powerplay became impotent.
Some players exceeded expectations playing above their effectiveness level during the regular season when give the chance ...
However those same players who exceeded expectations in the regular season were exposed as a team weakness in the playoffs when matched up against first line and second line players game after game.
Again, playoffs, the team was lucky to escape the first round and a lack of strategic game plan adaptation until about game 4 of round 2 was too little adjustment too late.

This year more turnover in player personnel.
And well...
What appears to be nearly complete fundamental breakdown in defensive team structure and positional play.
The team looks lost and frustrated.
Montgomery is a player’s coach which is fine when you have a veteran team and everybody knows their assignments and responsibilities.
But what is the defensive team structure?
What are the forwards defensive responsibilities in the defensive zone?
Do our players know their responsibilities?
Because on their on ice play shows something is wrong.

My theory is the system is design to break out quickly and transition to offense and that is their defensive team structure.
Head up ice as quick as possible.
Therfore it leads to missed assignments and coverage by both defensmen and forwards, turnovers, and a tendency to give up odd man rushes against our goalies.
Opponents have adapted their forecheck against us to counter our transition game and they have adapted their defensive posture to counter our zone entry and forecheck.

The question is: Can Montgomery adjust and adapt his approach?
Will he adapt his strategy to the strengths of the players he has on the team?
Or will he continue to try and force a square pegs into a round hole?
What I have seen to date isn't promising, but anything is possible.
How long will the powers that be give him to right the ship?

 

[BigGoalBrad]

He seemed cooked last year plus he truly misses Bergeron.
That and with injuries....Id say this is his last year. He's going to hang up the boots.

I wouldn't mind another at 1-2 mil and defined 4th line role just because you kick the can down the road for finding a replacement and we're desperate for wingers.

I doubt he's willing to play for less and probably wants to retire as captain of the Bs. Vs maybe get 2.5-3 or so on the market which I think he could find somewhere on a 1 year deal but maybe not if he is like this all year.

 

[Deal Law]

This team was supposed to be in the conversation for a cup, but with the lazy, undisciplined way they’re playing they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs. I put that blame squarely on the coaches. There is no runway here to turn it around in a season where the expectations are what they are. Monty needs to go and someone who can do the job brought in. Full stop.

This is not Buffalo or Chicago where we’re in the middle of a process. This is the culmination of a process and it needs to be righted right f***ing now.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I’m generally a pro-Monty guy. With reason.

He’s coached this team to two over-achieving regular seasons over two years at the helm. He’s earned some slack

He also was largely to blame for his first season’s playoff failure and an unceremonious end to Bergeron’s career. He’s earned some criticism.

It’s not so much the record right now that has me concerned… it’s how lost they seem. But going into this year, an adjustment period is something I expected.

The coaching staff has a lot to deal with:
The Bruins have one legitimate top line forward in Pastrnak.

They have a few genuine second line forwards in Zacha, Marchand, Lindholm and (in my opinion) Charlie Coyle. That requires 2/4 to play above their station, one of which won’t be Coyle. Which means that their top line is basically a second line in Pastrnak’s clothing.

Then they have Geekie, Frederic, Poitras and perhaps Brazeau to round out the 2nd/3rd lines, all of whom SHOULD could be contributing 3rd players. We want so much to label these guys as top six/bottom six, but the roster just isn’t built like that. There is no “second line”. It’s a bunch of guys.

It’s just little wonder to me that they look bad out of the gate.

He doesn’t have that killer instinct of coaching in the playoffs. Treats a series like it’s the regular season.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

He doesn’t have that killer instinct of coaching in the playoffs. Treats a series like it’s the regular season.

Sounds like a slogan to me rather than a specific criticism.

Then again, the same could have been said about Cassidy for years - until it couldn’t.

 

[dafoomie]

I don't blame him for this season but seeing him get thoroughly outcoached by Paul Maurice twice was enough for me. Maybe Mike Sullivan is the guy if he gets fired?

 

[McGarnagle]

It was a listless and frustrating Saturday night loss at home to Toronto that caused Claude to get fired in 2017. Just saying.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Sounds like a slogan to me rather than a specific criticism.

Then again, the same could have been said about Cassidy for years - until it couldn’t.

He figured it out with Vegas

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

He figured it out with Vegas

He’s the coach for Vegas.

 

[GordonHowe]

If the results are what matter, then I'd aim higher: Cam and Donnie

Those guys aren't going anywhere.

The results haven't been good, but Montgomery can't be blamed for the rampant stupid penalties each game. He hasn't gotten one slashing, tripping or cross checking penalty that I can remember. As a coach you can only remind your players so many times not to do those things and after that it is on them (Talking to you Pasta, Charlie, Brad and Z). Collectively this seems to be a stupid team. As Ron White has said "You can't fix stupid".
View attachment 921760

Understood.

But ultimately, stupid penalties and poor play are on the couch. That's the way it is. And if he can't get them to play properly, he doesn't deserve to be the head coach.

 

[GordonHowe]

I laugh at this but I see where you are coming from and agree. Off ice very comfortably comfortable (which is fine) but you’re getting paid for on ice performance. And 100% agree too top guys have looked lazy. Lazy plays….. lazy penalties. That for the veterans to fix should be a very easy thing to do.

I think Monty is given until game 20. It would look pretty bad to can him soon after hearing Sweeney say last month that they wanted to extend him. Coach has his issues but for me it’s more on the ice right now and if he had lost the room the effort vs the Avs and how they played in the 3rd vs the Stars wouldn’t have been close to good at all.

Maybe a game vs the Leafs tonight is exactly what the hockey doctors ordered for this team??!!??

Best game of the season v. TO tonight.

Coming together as a team will take time, but the win against the Leafs *and the way* they won it is a heartening development in that process.

Good for them.

 

[GordonHowe]

It's far too early for this discussion in my opinion.

Swayman missed the entirety of training camp. Marchand is coming off surgery, E Lindholm is adjusting to new system and line mates.

I would like to see Sweeney makes some roster moves so that he can sign Tyler Johnson. I think he would help a lot with depth.

Tyler Johnson should join the Bruins in relatively short order. I believe that's what placing Riley Tufte on waivers and sending him to Providence was about.

 

[GordonHowe]

I don`t always agree with his lineup moves or struggles at times to make in game adjustments but he sure as hell can`t control :

• players taking stupid penalties
• complete lack of focus with the puck leading to far too consistent giveaways
• players looked to for leadership/production doing nothing offensively
• prices of beer at the TD ok, this one was just a throw in

I get it, and to an extent I agree.

However, a) part of the issues you enumerate are the result of ineffective coaching/communication, and b) like it or not, the buck ultimately stops with Montgomery.

As Jack Kennedy famously observed, "Life isn't fair."

He was correct.

 

[GordonHowe]

Anyone know the reason the B's passed on Eichel when he was skating with them at Warrior? Neck or something else like "not a good fit"? Seems he was exactly what they needed with 46/37 aging out.

At that point, Eichel's unusual injury and the high risk surgical procedure he was determined to pursue in addressing it were very much scary unknowns.

Scary enough to chase away potential suitors, including the Bruins.

Some forget how fraught the situation was, and the gamble Eichel took to save his career.

A successful outcome was far from assured.

Lucky for Jack, the Vegas Golden Knights and the NHL, things worked out.

 

[GordonHowe]

This is not all inclusive but someone asked me what disturbing trends i had see energing over the last couple of years in spite of the team success the last two seasons ... (some aspects I covered in other posts and will try not to repeat here other than for continuity purposes). Feel free to disagree this is just an opinion through observation, not a fact.

Two years ago the Bruins had a veteran and very deep team lineup combined with some rising star young players.
The team was pretty much loaded.
Montgomery was brought in to be a player’s coach.
Montgomery pretty much let the players play. Montgomery was along for the ride, more of a goodwill ambassador with an uptempo freestyle quick transition game plan.
The majority of the players on that team already knew how to play defense and knew the importance of defensive zone coverage. - (This is an important fact as many of the players on the team had learned defensive positioning under Cassidy who had worked with Julian and a few more under the direct direction of Julian - it can not be overlooked.)

I credit the players for the regular season success.
In the playoffs when the team needed a coach to have a strategic game plan and make the hard decisions he came up short with many rumors he (Montgomery) deferred to the players judgment.
Why not, letting players have a say worked all season.

That team never should have lost to Florida.
Not because of their regular record but because of the team's depth, talent, skill and experience.
Imo it was because of a lack of leadership in decisiveness and strategic adaptation in the playoffs by the coach.

Last year many key veteran players were gone from the roster.
Still playing an up tempo quick transition freestyle game plan.
Cracks in team's defensive structure began to emerge throughout the season.
The team was carried again by strong goaltending covering for defensive lapses.
The powerplay became impotent.
Some players exceeded expectations playing above their effectiveness level during the regular season when give the chance ...
However those same players who exceeded expectations in the regular season were exposed as a team weakness in the playoffs when matched up against first line and second line players game after game.
Again, playoffs, the team was lucky to escape the first round and a lack of strategic game plan adaptation until about game 4 of round 2 was too little adjustment too late.

This year more turnover in player personnel.
And well...
What appears to be nearly complete fundamental breakdown in defensive team structure and positional play.
The team looks lost and frustrated.
Montgomery is a player’s coach which is fine when you have a veteran team and everybody knows their assignments and responsibilities.
But what is the defensive team structure?
What are the forwards defensive responsibilities in the defensive zone?
Do our players know their responsibilities?
Because on their on ice play shows something is wrong.

My theory is the system is design to break out quickly and transition to offense and that is their defensive team structure.
Head up ice as quick as possible.
Therfore it leads to missed assignments and coverage by both defensmen and forwards, turnovers, and a tendency to give up odd man rushes against our goalies.
Opponents have adapted their forecheck against us to counter our transition game and they have adapted their defensive posture to counter our zone entry and forecheck.

The question is: Can Montgomery adjust and adapt his approach?
Will he adapt his strategy to the strengths of the players he has on the team?
Or will he continue to try and force a square pegs into a round hole?
What I have seen to date isn't promising, but anything is possible.
How long will the powers that be give him to right the ship?

%

Excellent post.

Thank you.

I have had many problems with Montgomery's coaching, or lack thereof, since the disastrous flameout against FLA in 2023.

He is not a defense first coach. To me, a cardinal sin and unforgivable.

His approach to defense seems to be predicated, as you note, on getting the puck out of the defensive zone as quickly as possible and gunning it down the ice to score goals.

That is, at best, a half baked defensive "scheme." At worst, it is a recipe for chaos and calamity.

It is losing hockey.

This is why, ultimately, I do not believe Montgomery will survive in Boston.

There are simply too many loose ends, and too much on the fly improvisation for the Bruins to be a sound, successful club.

As mentioned previously, Montgomery is a fine NHL offensive specialist.

He has made, and he will make, an excellent college or Junior hockey coach.

He has learned and grown from his mistakes.

However, Sunny Jim is not a competent head coach at this level.

The Boston Bruins are in win now mode and they don't have time to wait on "The Education of Jim Montgomery."

It is an open question as to whether Montgomery can learn his NHL lessons in any case.

Sooner or later, he should and will be gone.

Barring and outside hire, the job will be Jay Leach's to lose,

 

[the negotiator]

It is top quality posts like the previous two that keep my coming back

Thanks to both of you for objective , fact-based observations

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Best game of the season v. TO tonight.

Coming together as a team will take time, but the win against the Leafs *and the way* they won it is a heartening development in that process.

Good for them.

By giving up a goal in the last minute and a half of the game to go to OT?

Yes, that is getting back to the Bruins way.

 

[EverettMike]

Imagine this thread if Toronto had scored with seven seconds left.

 

[LouJersey]

Imagine this thread if Toronto had scored with seven seconds left.

I'm just wondering if one day the criticism is ever going to go towards the architects of the teams the past decade instead of coaches, players, referees, bad ice, tough schedules, and of course phantom injuries, Clearly at some point Montgomery will take the fall. How many coaches is it ok for a GM to have? 5, 6...8?

 

[Dr Quincy]

Those guys aren't going anywhere.



Understood.

But ultimately, stupid penalties and poor play are on the couch. That's the way it is. And if he can't get them to play properly, he doesn't deserve to be the head coach.

Stupid penalties are on the players making them. If they can't play properly, that's on the front office that chose stupid players and gave them stupid contracts.

 

[Dr Quincy]

I'm just wondering if one day the criticism is ever going to go towards the architects of the teams the past decade instead of coaches, players, referees, bad ice, tough schedules, and of course phantom injuries, Clearly at some point Montgomery will take the fall. How many coaches is it ok for a GM to have? 5, 6...8?

I mean, I kinda get it.

If you are a fan, you want the team to win.

It's a lot better to think that one simple change (firing the coach and hiring a new one) will fix things than to think "Wow the organizational depth, long term cap situation and scarcity of prospects that we can build around means one quick fix won't work."

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Our captain has 6 goals in his last 44 games - the coach may be part of the problem, but he’s only part if so

I have no idea if Marchand has hand injuries but his stick skills have taken a hit no doubt. Most regression I have seen from him.