Management Montgomery fired - Sacco named interim coach Sacco - Blues hire Monty

[HustleB]

Several coaches used Bourque on lw, going back to Cheevers. It worked like a charm, especially against defensively weak teams like the Nords and Kings. Pederson centering Middleton and Bourque was formidable to say the least.

It's wild that I don't remember this at all.

 

[PlayMakers]

In pointing to Cassidy and Monty I'm primarily asking why shouldn't Sweeney be held to the same standard? Fair point that Monty's time was shorter and more patchy, but insert Julien then instead. When these long-term and mostly successful coaches stumbled and arguably went past their used by date in Boston, rightly or wrongly Sweeney fired them. I think it only reasonable that the GM himself should expect the same treatment.

On the lack of a Cup we simply see it differently. There is plenty of blame for falling short to go around but I believe Sweeney should bear his share too. No GM can be perfect and all rosters have flaws, but there are certain things, like the beyond-obvious black hole on Krejci's right in 2019 that Sweeney didn't even attempt to fill, that IMO were simply erroneous and inexcusable. In my mind I cannot ignore those, few as they may be perhaps, while also giving credit for a lot that Don has done right over the years.

I respect your position. We are not miles apart. I'm not yet firmly in the 'Don must go' camp. But I'm leaning in that direction, pending how the next 5 months or so play out. The issue that probably stands out most to me is something I said in my previous post - weaknesses tend to compound over time. For example, even allowing for the lack of high picks I think Sweeney is not very good at drafting forwards. Defenders, sure, but not the guys up front. And he has never prioritized sheer goal scoring talent, or perhaps even offensive/playmaking talent more broadly, enough. The longer you leave the same guy in charge, the deeper those issues run and the more damage they can cause, however much he brings on the positive side. Couple that with an offseason where he may well have gotten it very wrong indeed (TBC), and questions on whether it's time to move on inevitably arise.

All we can do for now is wait and see what unfolds from here.

I'm not saying Sweeney should be held to a different standard. I'm saying you don't treat a guy with 9 good years the same as you treat a guy with 2 spotty years. The amount of good years should be considered. More good years should equal more rope. You mention Julien. He had 7 good years and they gave him 2 and a half more years where they didn't make the playoffs, because of it. IMO that was fair. Maybe a half year more than fair (but they did just miss by a point his first DNQ). A short amount of success equals a quick axe, but IMO a long history of success should earn you a bit of respect and an opportunity to fix his own mistakes. For me, that number is 2 DNQ's.

In reference to your draft critique, my only comment would be that it's hard to draft high-end skill later in the draft.

 

[quietbruinfan]

It's wild that I don't remember this at all.

It's wild that I don't remember this at all.

Ray had his only career hat trick in Quebec.

 

[GordonHowe]

Not me hes my hero . Imagine no cup since 1972 till now.

If Sinden and O'Connell had been allowed to continue, you'd be staring at that very drought.

 

[GordonHowe]

 

[DaStinger]

I'd put money on it he ends up in St Louis.

 

[DKH]

And No.2 finally cracked 100 pts. last week, 8 years after his draft year and 7 months from being a UFA.

This has to be the worst drafting of forwards over the same time period across the league.

If anything defines Sweeney's time as GM, it's his abject failure to acquire top offensive producing forwards/primary scoring threats. Whether it's via the draft, trade, free agency, he's failed to do the above through any of those channels.

Woof? More like barf!

He put together a team with 135 points and an abject failure to ACQUIRE top offensive producing scoring threats

He traded for Nash & Bert, & Hall…

Who are these top scorers

Give me how you would have done it, give to get, fit in

As my boss once said - If you are going to complain I want your well thought out solution and we will discuss

I’m guessing you think you would be a better GM?

I really wish they started with management before firing their third head coach.

This aged well

 

[Johnny Upton]

 

[Gee Wally]

Well that didnt take long. Good luck to Monty

https://www.tsn.ca/st-louis-blues-fire-head-coach-drew-bannister-hire-jim-montgomery-1.2209159

 

[Bradely]

Well that didnt take long. Good luck to Monty

https://www.tsn.ca/st-louis-blues-fire-head-coach-drew-bannister-hire-jim-montgomery-1.2209159

Well hockey world is strange. Good luck to Montgomery!!! Would love to know if this was not previously discussed between all party before Monty's firing!

 

[Therewolf31]

Well hockey world is strange. Good luck to Montgomery!!! Would love to know if this was not previously discussed between all party before Monty's firing!

Yep seems a but fishy. Sucks for Bannister, on the job for what, a year maybe?

 

[the negotiator]

The timing does make me wonder how much of this was already in the works and would also help explain why Monty allegedly set a high re-signing number in discussions with the Bs

It was clearly time for a change behind the bench and the St Louis move suggests both parties - and not just the Bs- were in agreement

 

[Gee Wally]

I dont think the timing means anything. Essentially the same as Butch and Vegas.
Everything about the Blues makes sense. Monty was Assist. Coach there. Close with Armstrong. His wife from there. He still lives there in the offseason.

He was available and they jumped on it.

 

[SPV]

If the Blues win The Cup now……

 

[UncleRico]

As the GM Sweeney has had 58 players drafted. I typically don't look at players drafted within the last 3 years because odds of them being NHL regulars is slim. That leave us with 43 players.

If you sort the picks by games played you quickly see that 4 of the top 5 players are defensemen and 2 of them don't even play for Boston. Here is where I look at this draft history under Sweeney and cringe.....

Top 10 Forwards drafted by Sweeney (based on pts)
1. Jake DeBrusk
2. Trent Frederic
3. Jack Studnicka
4. Jakub Lauko
5. John Beecher
6. Oskar Steen
7. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson
8. Zachary Senyshyn
9. Joona Koppanen
10. Cameron Hughes

HOLY f***ING WOOOOOOF

That’s has to be among the worst in the NHL for that timespan

 

[Dr Hook]

That’s has to be among the worst in the NHL for that timespan

He probably should have done better, but do the draft position for these guys. I would like to see a comparison with another franchise that has been at or around Boston's level over the same time period. Tampa Bay maybe?

 

[chrisab123]

If the Blues win The Cup now……

If the Blues win the cup now, Neely will give Sweeney a 5 year extension. You really think there is any consequence whatsoever for Bruins Alumni in this organization? If you’re from Massachusetts or played for the Bs you’re safe. There’s a reason why guys like Ted Donato keeps coming up in the background whenever they fire a coach.

 

[Dr Hook]

If the Blues win the cup now, Neely will give Sweeney a 5 year extension. You really think there is any consequence whatsoever for Bruins Alumni in this organization? If you’re from Massachusetts or played for the Bs you’re safe. There’s a reason why guys like Ted Donato keeps coming up in the background whenever they fire a coach.

It didn't save Milbury, Ftorek or Sullivan.

 

[chrisab123]

That’s has to be among the worst in the NHL for that timespan

Debrusk for years kept declining until something clicked a couple years ago and he became a solid 2nd liner. Don liked drafting players who could contribute immediately on the 3rd line and had “good jam”. So while other organizations looked at ceiling, the Bruins essentially didn’t give a crap about that and cared about if they could make the 3rd or 4th line a year from draft day.

 

[chrisab123]

It didn't save Milbury, Ftorek or Sullivan.

I believe Sullivan and Ftorek missed the playoffs, which is a big no no for this organization. Milbury, I can’t recall why he was fired exactly. Something to do with being a prick I’m sure.

 

[Dr Hook]

I believe Sullivan and Ftorek missed the playoffs, which is a big no no for this organization. Milbury, I can’t recall why he was fired exactly. Something to do with being a prick I’m sure.

but being Mass guys didn't help them out in the end.

 

[chrisab123]

but being Mass guys didn't help them out in the end.

That’s fair but this is also Milbury you’re talking about. There’s exceptions to the rule.

 

[Bradely]

The timing does make me wonder how much of this was already in the works and would also help explain why Monty allegedly set a high re-signing number in discussions with the Bs

It was clearly time for a change behind the bench and the St Louis move suggests both parties - and not just the Bs- were in agreement

Yep... at least raising that the hypothesis exists is not stupid.

 

[Over the volcano]

Perfect landing spot for him. Wish him the best unless they're playing Boston

Debrusk for years kept declining until something clicked a couple years ago and he became a solid 2nd liner. Don liked drafting players who could contribute immediately on the 3rd line and had “good jam”. So while other organizations looked at ceiling, the Bruins essentially didn’t give a crap about that and cared about if they could make the 3rd or 4th line a year from draft day.

?

 

[Bradely]

I dont think the timing means anything. Essentially the same as Butch and Vegas.
Everything about the Blues makes sense. Monty was Assist. Coach there. Close with Armstrong. His wife from there. He still lives there in the offseason.

He was available and they jumped on it.

What a timing I may say!