The St. Louis Blues have made a significant change to their coaching staff, parting ways with Drew Bannister and bringing on Jim Montgomery as his successor. This decision comes just days after Montgomery was released from his position with the Boston Bruins, where he had been named the Jack Adams Award winner in 2022.

Blues’ President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced this unexpected shift on Sunday. Bannister had a brief stint with the team, holding the coaching position for less than a year after taking over from Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube. Unfortunately, the team’s performance has been disappointing, with the Blues recording only nine wins out of their first 22 games this season.

Jim Montgomery brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as an assistant coach on Berube’s staff for two seasons before taking on head coaching roles with Dallas and Boston. His departure from the Bruins was attributed to a challenging start to the season, leading to his dismissal less than a quarter of the way through.

The Blues have secured Montgomery with a five-year contract, signaling their commitment to turn the team’s fortunes around under his guidance.