Speculation: Potential Coaching Replacements for Jim Montgomery

[Dr Hook]

Except you can't trade all the veteran players. You can get rid of the coach. It happens all the time in this league.

This- they could maybe move one or two in trades, and park another one or two in Providence, but you can't turn over a roster mid-season. It's hard enough to do in the off-season. So sacking the coach is the best option and hope that a different voice and style can get more out of the players. Maybe they go interim and see what happens, and then with all the expiring contracts they have coming up, make big personnel decisions about the team after the season.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Except you can't trade all the veteran players. You can get rid of the coach. It happens all the time in this league.

I know how it works. But blaming the coach - regardless of the move they make - in this case is lame.

 

[Shoebottom88]

These are veteran players. It falls on them.

Yup. They know what they’re doing. They’re getting rid of the coach. Not hard to figure that out.

 

[BruinDust]

I know how it works. But blaming the coach - regardless of the move they make - in this case is lame.

Is it? It was the player's decision to drastically change their style of play and try to be Florida Panthers - Temu edition?

To me that is clearly what the coaching staff have done here. If you can't beat em', join 'em. How did the Panthers win? Let's do more of that is basically what the coaches have decided to do. But they don't have the personnel to play that game, it's on the coaching staff to realize that.

 

[BMC]

Yup. They know what they’re doing. They’re getting rid of the coach. Not hard to figure that out.

I agree.

Effort is the one thing every player has control over. So far this season the effort just hasn't been there.

For whatever reason they want this guy gone and maybe some of his staff too.

 

[Dr Hook]

Is it? It was the player's decision to drastically change their style of play and try to be Florida Panthers - Temu edition?

To me that is clearly what the coaching staff have done here. If you can't beat em', join 'em. How did the Panthers win? Let's do more of that is basically what the coaches have decided to do. But they don't have the personnel to play that game, it's on the coaching staff to realize that.

What's odd though is that they often aren't trying to do it based on the amount of finesse plays when trying to enter the zone. I feel like we would see a lot more dump and chase if they were really trying to use the forecheck. It feels more like they built a team for that, but the style hasn't really followed. Maybe Monty IS telling them to dump and chase and they aren't? I

 

[BruinDust]

What's odd though is that they often aren't trying to do it based on the amount of finesse plays when trying to enter the zone. I feel like we would see a lot more dump and chase if they were really trying to use the forecheck. It feels more like they built a team for that, but the style hasn't really followed. Maybe Monty IS telling them to dump and chase and they aren't? I

I don't see as much dump and chase as I see a heck of a lot of dump and change. Hard to dump and chase when your just getting out of your own zone after 30-45 seconds of defending every time.

Having a team take time to adjust early in the season isn't uncommon and is to be somewhat expected. But this looks like they've tossed the baby out with the bathwater and are trying something completely different from what they are used to or what they have the personnel for. It's on the coaches to be able to communicate the changes effectively and get buy-in from the team (especially the leaders).

You have to wonder what Marchand thinks after 15 years of relative success playing basically passive defense (less aggressive forecheck, collapsing zone D). Ken Hitchcock once said that if you can't get your top players to buy into your strict defensive scheme, you have no chance of getting your lesser players to jump onboard. Is Marchand onboard? Does he believe what Monty and Co. are selling?

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I agree.

Effort is the one thing every player has control over. So far this season the effort just hasn't been there.

For whatever reason they want this guy gone and maybe some of his staff too.

I wonder why Montgomery wouldn’t be well liked ? Isn’t he supposed to be the polar opposite of Bruce Cassidy or has he changed and now acts like Bruce ?

 

[ON3M4N]

This- they could maybe move one or two in trades, and park another one or two in Providence, but you can't turn over a roster mid-season. It's hard enough to do in the off-season. So sacking the coach is the best option and hope that a different voice and style can get more out of the players. Maybe they go interim and see what happens, and then with all the expiring contracts they have coming up, make big personnel decisions about the team after the season.

I'll say this, Cassidy was sacked because he lost the room and the players needed a new voice. Now we're saying just over 2yrs into Monty's run the players need a new voice again? The style isn't going to change. The team philosophy is set by Sweeney & Cam. They want the team to play big and physical....the players don't seem to want to play big in physical.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Is it? It was the player's decision to drastically change their style of play and try to be Florida Panthers - Temu edition?

To me that is clearly what the coaching staff have done here. If you can't beat em', join 'em. How did the Panthers win? Let's do more of that is basically what the coaches have decided to do. But they don't have the personnel to play that game, it's on the coaching staff to realize that.

If they were screwing up their style of play then sure. They couldn’t play any style the way they’re playing. Couldn’t even do Gerard Gallant’s Pee Wee breakouts.

Theyre out of shape and now they’re tight and have no confidence. And they’re not getting through it with effort.

Blame the coach if you want - I get that it will come down on him. But watching 63/73/88/13/11 play is embarrassing right now.

 

[PlayMakers]

I know how it works. But blaming the coach - regardless of the move they make - in this case is lame.

I think the players deserve a big part of the blame but you can’t excuse the coach completely. It’s his job to motivate, inspire, teach, get the group on the same page, etc… He hasn’t been able to do any of that and it’s not one or two guys, it’s every important player on this team.

Somewhere along the way he lost their respect. They don’t want to play for him. That’s on both parties.

 

[PlayMakers]

Is it? It was the player's decision to drastically change their style of play and try to be Florida Panthers - Temu edition?

To me that is clearly what the coaching staff have done here. If you can't beat em', join 'em. How did the Panthers win? Let's do more of that is basically what the coaches have decided to do. But they don't have the personnel to play that game, it's on the coaching staff to realize that.

But they’re not copying the Panthers whole sale. We don’t defend like the Panthers. We don’t attack like the Panthers, spamming the net with shots from anywhere. I think they wanted to forecheck like the Panthers and that hasn’t worked, except for one line but I’m not sure the other lines are trying hard enough to know if it can or can’t work.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

I'll say this, Cassidy was sacked because he lost the room and the players needed a new voice. Now we're saying just over 2yrs into Monty's run the players need a new voice again? The style isn't going to change. The team philosophy is set by Sweeney & Cam. They want the team to play big and physical....the players don't seem to want to play big in physical.

Sweeney and Neely have assembled a team with too many JAGs on it. This is 100% on them. Little Jakey got his feewings hurt when Butch yelled at him. Awwww. So, they get rid of Butch (cuz he must be a bad coach, right?)…and he proceeds to win a Cup.

This ain’t about the coach. It’s about the quality of the players. NO COACH ALIVE is getting these hacks close to a SC. We need a total rebuild, but one done by a totally different braintrust.

I have zero confidence in Sweeney at this point.

 

[xStanleyCupsFor]

Claude - this team is built for a box + 1 system. huge D with limited speed and limited offense up front. smart D minded centers.

need to smother in the D zone and then capitalize on the offense you get from that.

Clode always had back pressure from a forward on the puck carrier in the neutral zone. I never see that anymore. So they don't forecheck well enough, don't back check, and don't clog the neutral zone. So what are they doing?

 

[PlayMakers]

I wonder why Montgomery wouldn’t be well liked ? Isn’t he supposed to be the polar opposite of Bruce Cassidy or has he changed and now acts like Bruce ?

I don’t think it’s about like, I think it’s about trust. I think the players want to play one way and Monty wants them to play another.

What we’re seeing is a half hearted effort to follow Monty’s game plan.

 

[BruinDust]

But they’re not copying the Panthers whole sale. We don’t defend like the Panthers. We don’t attack like the Panthers, spamming the net with shots from anywhere. I think they wanted to forecheck like the Panthers and that hasn’t worked, except for one line but I’m not sure the other lines are trying hard enough to know if it can or can’t work.

They are shooting more though. Not quite spam the net like Florida, but there is less puck possession and more just firing it at the net at EV, in particular from the point. Granted not a lot of those shots are getting through or the ones that get through the goalie sees it clearly.

Defensively to me they are trying to smother more and be more aggressive in the defensive zone, more of a hybrid than a collapsing zone D, which is what a lot of teams (not just Florida) have gone to. They aren't going strict man-on-man. Maybe that's part of the confusion, a hybrid is more of a half measure and they can't find that happy middle ground being so used to passively defending keeping everything to the outside.

I said this in another thread but what is Marchand's take on the changes to the system? Here he's been relatively successful playing basically passive defense in the neutral and defensive zones his entire career here. If he's not sold, then it's hard to expect the rest of the team to buy into the new strategy.

 

[BamBamCam]

If Sweeney is leaning towards letting go of Monty. Hopefully he's looking at this person.

Nate Leaman​

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I think the players deserve a big part of the blame but you can’t excuse the coach completely. It’s his job to motivate, inspire, teach, get the group on the same page, etc… He hasn’t been able to do any of that and it’s not one or two guys, it’s every important player on this team.

Somewhere along the way he lost their respect. They don’t want to play for him. That’s on both parties.

You can think it’s on both that’s fine. I get it.

But when this leadership group said they were done with Cassidy (which I was fine with) they can’t turn around and pout and tank and push a players coach out too.

This is the NHL - the coach shouldn’t have to motivate and inspire a veteran team like this with ostensibly a great team culture. That’s just poor excuse making to me.

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

Make Bergeron the coach IMO. Assistants Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas.

 

[bp14]

Putting this on Monty is a f***ing joke. Yeah he’ll probably get fired but this is on the leadership group showing up out of shape, complacent, and not ready to go.

So I’m not arguing with you per se, but let’s look at some telltale things:

- Tons of minor penalties. Sign of laziness and lack of dicipline
- Terrible special teams. Roster hasn’t changed much…why so terrible now?
- Players called out by name only 10 games into a season
- blowout loss after a loss to a lousy Philly team

These are all things you see before coaches get fired. It’s just so self evident like it or not.

 

[Hookslide]

I'll say this, Cassidy was sacked because he lost the room and the players needed a new voice. Now we're saying just over 2yrs into Monty's run the players need a new voice again? The style isn't going to change. The team philosophy is set by Sweeney & Cam. They want the team to play big and physical....the players don't seem to want to play big in physical.

If you are correct, that the management team wants to play big and physical, and that is why they were brought in and the coach is not on board, you know what that means. There is a lot of bitching about penalties, and I agree, I think some of these penalties are lazy penalties, reaching with you stick, stop moving your type, if you are going to take penalties make them and give the opposition something to think about, many have criticized Zadorov but he is trying to do just that, he is one of the few last night that had a pulse. If this losing continues and shit play that goes along with it, might be time to unifies as a team and kick some ass. You want to beat me , that's ok but you will need to earn that win.

Make Bergeron the coach IMO. Assistants Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas.

OH stop !

 

[xStanleyCupsFor]

I don’t think it’s about like, I think it’s about trust. I think the players want to play one way and Monty wants them to play another.

What we’re seeing is a half hearted effort to follow Monty’s game plan.

Do you think the players look at their roster and actually want to play a more north/south game, more shots, more low to high? Or is it the opposite?

 

[Bruins4Lifer]

I don’t think it’s about like, I think it’s about trust. I think the players want to play one way and Monty wants them to play another.

What we’re seeing is a half hearted effort to follow Monty’s game plan.

What kind of game do they want to play, then?

I think you're right on it being about trust, but I don't think its about how Monty wants them to be playing (the system). I think the approach by Monty of constantly putting the lines in a blender is causing the distrust. It's not even on a game-by-game basis anymore, which is very short to begin with, he's doing it period-by-period or even by shift at times now too. These are acts of desperation and show a lack of confidence in the players, and thinks that's carrying down to the players themselves in how they feel about their own game.

 

[BMC]

I wonder why Montgomery wouldn’t be well liked ? Isn’t he supposed to be the polar opposite of Bruce Cassidy or has he changed and now acts like Bruce ?

Perhaps in time we'll know what really went on but for now it's ????

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

So I’m not arguing with you per se, but let’s look at some telltale things:

- Tons of minor penalties. Sign of laziness and lack of dicipline
- Terrible special teams. Roster hasn’t changed much…why so terrible now?
- Players called out by name only 10 games into a season
- blowout loss after a loss to a lousy Philly team

These are all things you see before coaches get fired. It’s just so self evident like it or not.

I know the coach is going to get fired if this keeps up. But I think the players have failed him. Coyle has fallen down by himself skating forward 4 out of the last 5 games.

Again, if people want to blame the coach or the GM that’s fine. I look at very good players who supposedly have reverence for the Bruins culture playing like this and I’m putting it square on their foreheads.