Management Jim Montgomery 2: Trouble in Paradise?

[GordonHowe]

Jim Montgomery was and will be a fantastic college or Junior hockey coach.

He has an impressive record of success as an NHL assistant coach with St Louis, specializing in offense.

However, FWIW, I have concluded that at present, he is not an NHL head coach.

Not for this team, at any rate.

I wish him well and mean no malice, but the Sunny Jim experiment in Boston has come to an end, or will in short order.

Yes, it is early in the season.

Yes, it will take time for this edition of the Boston Bruins to mesh and become a team. That will be the case no matter who is behind the Boston bench.

But the results are clear.

The results that matter, which is to say the playoffs and going deep into them - speak for themselves.

All credit for advancement into the second round after several seasons of failure to do so under Bruce Cassidy.

Even so, this is not going to work out.

Jim Montgomery is not the head coach the Boston Bruins need.

I don't wish to be cruel or nonchalant, but get rid of him.

Click to read more...

 

[smithformeragent]

Struggling Bruins finding themselves in unfamiliar territory under Jim Montgomery

After starting strong in Jim Montgomery's first two years in Boston, the Bruins are just 3-4-1 out of the gate in 2024-25.

www.boston.com

 

[BamBamCam]

So is Monty and Sweeney on different pages? Has Monty lost the room? Or is the real question is Chris Kelly a NHL coach?

 

[RI.B FAN]

I would wait 3-4 more games

 

[Over the volcano]

Something's broke for sure. Maybe this club needs a long runway or maybe they need a new pilot. I know folks were happy Leach was coming back but they look worse than they have in a long long time.

 

[DKH]

Maybe Pasta doesn’t get 2 bad penalties in first 8 minutes of second period that lead to 2 PP goals

The first one 11 seconds in a flat footed reach of stick to hands

The second an offensive zone trip at the end of a long shift that kind controlled play - inexcusable penalty

In between those two a bad wiff and interference on Wotherspoon ~ bad play all around ~ another PP goal

 

[SPV]

Team has laid a few eggs the past few games. But lots of teams struggle at different times during a long season, Colorado was 0-4 a bit ago, Edmonton stunk it up early last season and made the finals. I think there’s too much talent here for them not to figure it out.

 

[Aeroforce]

How about a hockey trade, Jim Montgomery for John Tortorella?

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

How about a hockey trade, Jim Montgomery for John Tortorella?

A Lot of Philly fans would love that.

I think the real question is would they hire Quenneville? Or just go to interim Leach? I think Leach is the likely candidate. If they lose to the Leafs and Philly I think Monty's done.

 

[KurtDangle]

If they fire Monty i hope they dont just promote someone within organisation. I would hire a new coaching staff completly. Fresh start for everyone.

 

[quietbruinfan]

It will be Leach. Anyone who has followed knows that. Management had a meeting with the Jacobs family, one can only hope they are on extremely thin ice.

 

[Jorgolyte]

I'm not in love with the guy but look at the forward corps he's rolling with every night. He did very well last year and probably deserves some time

 

[Dr Quincy]

Jim Montgomery was and will be a fantastic college or Junior hockey coach.

He has an impressive record of success as an NHL assistant coach with St Louis, specializing in offense.

However, FWIW, I have concluded that at present, he is not an NHL head coach.

Not for this team, at any rate.

I wish him well and mean no malice, but the Sunny Jim experiment in Boston has come to an end, or will in short order.

Yes, it is early in the season.

Yes, it will take time for this edition of the Boston Bruins to mesh and become a team. That will be the case no matter who is behind the Boston bench.

But the results are clear.

The results that matter, which is to say the playoffs and going deep into them - speak for themselves.

All credit for advancement into the second round after several seasons of failure to do so under Bruce Cassidy.

Even so, this is not going to work out.

Jim Montgomery is not the head coach the Boston Bruins need.

I don't wish to be cruel or nonchalant, but get rid of him.

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

 

[DKH]

It will be Leach. Anyone who has followed knows that. Management had a meeting with the Jacobs family, one can only hope they are on extremely thin ice.

Why was Sacco named Assistant Coach

 

[KillerMillerTime]

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

The chances of that happening this year are unlikely DQ. There is still enough talent to get a WC spot and ultimately save those two. JM has almost all the jeapordy, unless they DNQ.

Do people think 2 of NJ, WA, OTT, DET, BUFF or NYI are making PO ahead of Boston?
Sure NJ will but I say Boston is still the choice over remaining 5.

 

[DKH]

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

The Bruins problems are with their best players not performing

Pastrnak is in idle mode to much and his 2 lazy stick penalties one on offensive zone trip led to 2 early second period PPG

McAvoy is clearly excited to become a dad and his complete focus seems not there

Between child and getting hair I get it but he’s got to be better

Monty is all over the map with lines & pairings - he’s had more failed lines then Edison with electricity

I think they get beat tonight he’s gone

 

[DKH]

I'm not in love with the guy but look at the forward corps he's rolling with every night. He did very well last year and probably deserves some time

Yah big disagree

Marchand is still quick and around puck and getting opportunities

His decisions are to high risk and his style can best be described out-of-control

A 63-28-88 should be a high end line

Coyle & Frederic have long been an very good duo

They were very good the other night - they were skating and had several high scoring chances individually and setting up their RW. Their game didn’t get praise because of 63 & 88 four penalties all weak but deserved and flipped game and momentum

They aren’t washed up

The 4th line has been superb

I’d keep Kastelic & Beecher together on 4th

I’d keep Fredric & Coyle together on 3rd

I’d keep 88 & 63 together with Lindholm ~ those two are making the majority of mistakes so stick them together and assume they bear down

Right now they are the trick o’ treat line

Poitras has shown growth at center and for general effort and nice plays Zacha after Koepke has been their shift to shift best forward

Load it and leave it ~ mess around with the RW group

63-28-88
18-51
11-13
19-47

I’d try Koepke with lines 2 or 3 he seems very disciplined and high hockey iq

Smart move getting a young Tampa guy with some power game

If Marchand is going to play out of control, Pastrnak like he’s still releasing doves off some castle in Prague, and Mac like he’s just to excited or tired from first child then they are doomed

My other complaint is the D

Lohrei - Mac
Lindy - Carlo
Z- Peeke

Wortherspoon nice injury replacement although Sweezey is better ~ but brutal bad penalty (there’s a pattern here) that led to third goal

Bruins have talent - they are sloppy, unfocused, reckless and it’s their core

 

[Forester65]

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".

 

[BigGoalBrad]

The Bruins problems are with their best players not performing

Pastrnak is in idle mode to much and his 2 lazy stick penalties one on offensive zone trip led to 2 early second period PPG

McAvoy is clearly excited to become a dad and his complete focus seems not there

Between child and getting hair I get it but he’s got to be better

Monty is all over the map with lines & pairings - he’s had more failed lines then Edison with electricity

I think they get beat tonight he’s gone

Coyle and Carlo have been terrible since they reproduced. Maybe too many distractions and they can't handle living here I bet they wouldn't suck this much if they were playing in Calgary.

 

[Therewolf31]

How about a hockey trade, Jim Montgomery for John Tortorella?

Noooooooooooo!

 

[bp14]

Yah big disagree

Marchand is still quick and around puck and getting opportunities

His decisions are to high risk and his style can best be described out-of-control

A 63-28-88 should be a high end line

Coyle & Frederic have long been an very good duo

They were very good the other night - they were skating and had several high scoring chances individually and setting up their RW. Their game didn’t get praise because of 63 & 88 four penalties all weak but deserved and flipped game and momentum

They aren’t washed up

The 4th line has been superb

I’d keep Kastelic & Beecher together on 4th

I’d keep Fredric & Coyle together on 3rd

I’d keep 88 & 63 together with Lindholm ~ those two are making the majority of mistakes so stick them together and assume they bear down

Right now they are the trick o’ treat line

Poitras has shown growth at center and for general effort and nice plays Zacha after Koepke has been their shift to shift best forward

Load it and leave it ~ mess around with the RW group

63-28-88
18-51
11-13
19-47

I’d try Koepke with lines 2 or 3 he seems very disciplined and high hockey iq

Smart move getting a young Tampa guy with some power game

If Marchand is going to play out of control, Pastrnak like he’s still releasing doves off some castle in Prague, and Mac like he’s just to excited or tired from first child then they are doomed

My other complaint is the D

Lohrei - Mac
Lindy - Carlo
Z- Peeke

Wortherspoon nice injury replacement although Sweezey is better ~ but brutal bad penalty (there’s a pattern here) that led to third goal

Bruins have talent - they are sloppy, unfocused, reckless and it’s their core

IMO this post absolutely nails it. The leaders of this team have been a major problem. Id probably extend if to the other key veterans too. Coyle, Zacha, Geekie. All virtually useless thus far.

The stuff I do worry about that is reflective of coaching are the penalties and the constant needless icings. That’s effort and attention to detail. That’s very uncharacteristic of the Bruins in recent years.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Jim Montgomery was and will be a fantastic college or Junior hockey coach.

He has an impressive record of success as an NHL assistant coach with St Louis, specializing in offense.

However, FWIW, I have concluded that at present, he is not an NHL head coach.

Not for this team, at any rate.

I wish him well and mean no malice, but the Sunny Jim experiment in Boston has come to an end, or will in short order.

Yes, it is early in the season.

Yes, it will take time for this edition of the Boston Bruins to mesh and become a team. That will be the case no matter who is behind the Boston bench.

But the results are clear.

The results that matter, which is to say the playoffs and going deep into them - speak for themselves.

All credit for advancement into the second round after several seasons of failure to do so under Bruce Cassidy.

Even so, this is not going to work out.

Jim Montgomery is not the head coach the Boston Bruins need.

I don't wish to be cruel or nonchalant, but get rid of him.

I'm going to have to disagree with that statement.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Coyle and Carlo have been terrible since they reproduced. Maybe too many distractions and they can't handle living here I bet they wouldn't suck this much if they were playing in Calgary.

Hadn't heard that about them.

 

[TP70BruinsCup]

McAvoy is clearly excited to become a dad and his complete focus seems not there

Between child and getting hair I get it but he’s got to be better

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??!!??

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

The Bruins problems are with their best players not performing

Pastrnak is in idle mode to much and his 2 lazy stick penalties one on offensive zone trip led to 2 early second period PPG

McAvoy is clearly excited to become a dad and his complete focus seems not there

Between child and getting hair I get it but he’s got to be better

Monty is all over the map with lines & pairings - he’s had more failed lines then Edison with electricity

I think they get beat tonight he’s gone

Agreed.

Them and Jay Leach. He was married to Kathryn Tappen, right? Must be a broken man.