Speculation: Potential Coaching Replacements for Jim Montgomery

[JCRO]

Only in Boston would we have a coach who is 120-40-15 as Head Coach, a top six with 2 top six players on it and he is the one at risk of being fired NOT the management team...

You’re not wrong at all Coach. But it’s a “what have you done for me lately” kind of league.

This team is unstructured and uninspired. Inconsistency is their mistress. They also have the mental fortitude of a toddler. That last point a cynical fan could argue it be attributed to the coach since we’ve seen flashes of it more than once in his time here.

While it’s not all on Jimbo and his staff, it’s the easiest move to be made especially where this is his last year under contract. Then we’ll really see if it was the team or the coach and go from there.

I think most of us agree that it’s ridiculous to think Sweeney is going to live through a third coaching change and it’s absolutely unfair that he gets another scapegoat. But again, if the change happens at HC and they still suck eggs, well there’s your answer and I think the answer many are expecting.

This situation feels very similar to Claude’s last days here to me. I know at that time I didn’t think he deserved to be fired but I also knew the team was better than they were. Not saying it plays out that way this time. Just drawing lines.

 

[DKH]

Change of scenery hockey trade - Montgomery for Sullivan.

Actually my hockey homies got Monty going, Sacco rest of year & Sullivan next season

I’m there as well

 

[Hookslide]

That is a really good analogy. Your father was a smart man.

Smarter than the squirrels.

 

[Hookslide]

and soon. Sweeney heading team Canada must be distracting.
Four Nations BS is just that.
I only care about one team, Boston Bruins.

You are so right about this Team Canada crap, why did they need to have a active GM doing that job, you telling, me there are no other qualified hockey guy out there that can do the job.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

and soon. Sweeney heading team Canada must be distracting.
Four Nations BS is just that.
I only care about one team, Boston Bruins.

Do we really think DS is out their scouting for the 4N team? Like the American team it's a forgone conclusion what those rosters are going to be.

It may be more of a distraction for guys trying to get noticed.

Sweeney will trade before he fires Monty, when he does make coaching changes it will be the entire staff behind the bench in the offseason.

Just me 2 pennies

 

[chizzler]

Boston media only cares about the Pat-riots, and the Celtics. The Bruins are doing exactly as the media wants them to. Be a non-factor.

Only a non factor until negative news comes out.

 

[Hookslide]

Only a non factor until negative news comes out.

Good point , they shine then.

 

[EverettMike]

Can’t operate like that - they might as well replace Monty with the weatherman Phil Connors from Ground Hog Day for the third period

They are destined to go down the drain as is ~ he needs to move on

Monty is a good guy, good coach, but this is like a gazillion relationships where for whatever reason there is no passion - and without passion you are 8-8-2

Sweeney needs to act asap they aren’t even a quarter in but as Yogi Berra said ‘it’s getting late, early’

I agree, but that doesn't mean he won't consider that/isn't considering that.

 

[Dr Quincy]

1. Im GM I need to know if it was this coach

2. Sacco temp ~ I’ll find my coach in offseason when assistant coaches are available and pool of head coaches is expanded

I’ll grocery shop at Whole Foods or Wegmans not White Hen Pantry or Seven Eleven, thank you

3. Jan 1 I’ve just had 6 weeks and 20 games without Monty

38 down and 44 to go

A. What’s our position
B. How we playing
C. Good place and add or hopeless and subtract

Steps need to be taken

The GM should know it's him.

 

[EverettMike]

Makes me sick to defend Don Sweeney, but there's a chance being the Team Canada GM for 4N is actually good for the Bruins. He might be personally watching even more hockey and doing more pro scouting himself than he would have otherwise.

 

[Hookslide]

Makes me sick to defend Don Sweeney, but there's a chance being the Team Canada GM for 4N is actually good for the Bruins. He might be personally watching even more hockey and doing more pro scouting himself than he would have otherwise.

Nice spin, I don't believe it, but that does not make you wrong.

 

[EverettMike]

Nice spin, I don't believe it, but that does not make you wrong.

It's not spin. And literally no one is less interested in defending Don Sweeney than your old pal EM. It just seems to me it has an equal chance of being good as it does of being a distraction.

It's not like he's the GM for Team Finland and is now dedicating time to watching some European league. Literally every player he is considering for Team Canada plays in the NHL where the Bruins also play.

 

[ODAAT]

logic says the B`s likely to go with Sacco or Leach if and when Monty gets the boot, your thoughts on this would be appreciated

Sacco/Leach assessment

- Areas you think he could inject energy in the B`s?
- system either choose to go with or status quo?
- will/would each allow the players to focus less on systems offensively and more on instinct?

 

[Hookslide]

logic says the B`s likely to go with Sacco or Leach if and when Monty gets the boot, your thoughts on this would be appreciated

Sacco/Leach assessment

- Areas you think he could inject energy in the B`s?
- system either choose to go with or status quo?
- will/would each allow the players to focus less on systems offensively and more on instinct?

When Monty goes, they all should go. I am not saying Monty should not be shit canned, but in fairness to him, he has no one on his staff that was his guy.

 

[DominicT]

logic says the B`s likely to go with Sacco or Leach if and when Monty gets the boot, your thoughts on this would be appreciated

Sacco/Leach assessment

- Areas you think he could inject energy in the B`s?
- system either choose to go with or status quo?
- will/would each allow the players to focus less on systems offensively and more on instinct?

The defensive system is all Sacco, has been since the Julien days. Both Cassidy and Montgomery made minor adjustments to the breakout, but the defensive system is still the same. Both Cassidy and Montgomery have spoken about it in the past, yet it fails to stick with some people here.

It's an execution issue.

As for the offence, a lot has to change. They aren't generating much of anything off the rush and they wanted to improve that. If they aren't scoring dirty goals, they are going to have trouble scoring.

That again is execution but is also a systems issue as far as I am concerned.

 

[Mione134]

The defensive system is all Sacco, has been since the Julien days. Both Cassidy and Montgomery made minor adjustments to the breakout, but the defensive system is still the same. Both Cassidy and Montgomery have spoken about it in the past, yet it fails to stick with some people here.

It's an execution issue.

As for the offence, a lot has to change. They aren't generating much of anything off the rush and they wanted to improve that. If they aren't scoring dirty goals, they are going to have trouble scoring.

That again is execution but is also a systems issue as far as I am concerned.

They need to clean house, imo

 

[ODAAT]

The defensive system is all Sacco, has been since the Julien days. Both Cassidy and Montgomery made minor adjustments to the breakout, but the defensive system is still the same. Both Cassidy and Montgomery have spoken about it in the past, yet it fails to stick with some people here.

It's an execution issue.

As for the offence, a lot has to change. They aren't generating much of anything off the rush and they wanted to improve that. If they aren't scoring dirty goals, they are going to have trouble scoring.

That again is execution but is also a systems issue as far as I am concerned.

thx Dom, noticed way too often and I think your guest Mike Eagles alluded to it as well that the forwards are so bloody slow coming back to give the D men a target to begin the breakout which helps generate that speed through the neutral zone.

This team was a bit of a mess before the Peaks/Hampus injuries, now Kastelic, not sure what happened to Monty`s attitude of the first two years where he seemed to , offensively , let the boys skills take over and not focus solely on a system or set plays outside of the PP.

Either way, such a disappointing first quarter of the season

They need to clean house, imo

not opposed to it but unlikely during the season I would think

 

[Thirty Seven]

They need to clean house, imo

If the goal is to tank then Sacco is the guy you want. It's the only positive thing Avs fans were saying about him. If they want to try and compete then I agree, I just imagine it's difficult to do so mid season.

 

[DominicT]

When Monty goes, they all should go. I am not saying Monty should not be shit canned, but in fairness to him, he has no one on his staff that was his guy.

Monty was given the option. He has spoken about it. He chose to keep the assistant coaches.

Sweeney allows the coaches to make the decisions as it should be.

Heck, Sweeney even allowed Bruce Cassidy to fire Kevin Dean just before, you know, Neely told Sweeney he had to fire Cassidy.

 

[Hookslide]

Monty was given the option. He has spoken about it. He chose to keep the assistant coaches.

Sweeney allows the coaches to make the decisions as it should be.

Heck, Sweeney even allowed Bruce Cassidy to fire Kevin Dean just before, you know, Neely told Sweeney he had to fire Cassidy.

If that is true and I believe you know that to be true, then that supports my thoughts that if Monty goes then clean house with the coaching staff.

 

[Dr Quincy]

logic says the B`s likely to go with Sacco or Leach if and when Monty gets the boot, your thoughts on this would be appreciated

Sacco/Leach assessment

- Areas you think he could inject energy in the B`s?
- system either choose to go with or status quo?
- will/would each allow the players to focus less on systems offensively and more on instinct?

It was a long time ago and guys can improve, but Avs fans absolutely hated Sacco.

 

[DominicT]

If that is true and I believe you know that to be true, then that supports my thoughts that if Monty goes then clean house with the coaching staff.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I just disagree with the "it's not his staff" part.

Should they go? Absolutely. I have been very vocal that it should have happened 2 years ago.

Montgomery led the Blues special teams to top 10 finishes and if I recall, the PP was second in the NHL.

Did he forget all of a sudden how to coach? I don't think so. I think he has lost the room.

 

[Hookslide]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I just disagree with the "it's not his staff" part.

Should they go? Absolutely. I have been very vocal that it should have happened 2 years ago.

Montgomery led the Blues special teams to top 10 finishes and if I recall, the PP was second in the NHL.

Did he forget all of a sudden how to coach? I don't think so. I think he has lost the room.

Unfortunately, I think you might be right about him losing the room, but also think there are so many other obstacles, that this team has had this year, Marchands surgery which was failed to be mentioned, even after Sweeney said the team did not need any surgeries in the season, Swaymans contract, and now even Monty's contract, players missing camp,, and bringing in so many new players. I just am very frustrated, and I can only imagine how the players feel. Solutions, plural?