NEW YORK — On Monday, new Blues coach Jim Montgomery met with reporters at Madison Square Garden, wearing a dark blue sweatshirt featuring the team’s iconic blue note logo, and his excitement was palpable.
Montgomery, who served as an assistant coach with the Blues from 2020 to 2022, expressed his happiness at returning to St. Louis.
“It’s absolutely crazy — there’s no other way to describe it,” remarked the 55-year-old, just days after being let go by the Boston Bruins and taking over the coaching position for St. Louis, succeeding Drew Bannister.
“Having worked with over half of this roster previously, I recognize the commitment they possess. For me, this move felt like a no-brainer; it’s a chance to come back home.”
The Blues faced challenges last season, failing to make the playoffs after Bannister replaced 2019 Stanley Cup champion coach Craig Berube in December.
They kicked off the current season with a record of 9-12-1, and only a couple of teams have scored fewer goals than their average of 2.36 per game.
Furthermore, they are struggling in the bottom tier of the league concerning both their power play and penalty kill statistics.
Montgomery previously led the Bruins to an impressive record-setting 65 wins and 135 points during the 2022-23 season, earning him the title of Coach of the Year.
Recognizing Montgomery’s potential, Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong acted quickly when he became available.
“When you receive a call from Doug Armstrong outlining his plan, and he communicates how vital you are to it, you realize it’s the right destination,” Montgomery said.
“One line that really hooked me was, ‘When something delicious falls on my plate, I eat.’ That day, I suppose I was the T-bone.”
Montgomery has a track record of success; every NHL team he has coached for an entire season has made the playoffs, and his .659 points percentage is among the league’s best historically.
“I have faith in this group,” he stated.
“It’s quite difficult to make the playoffs in this league—half the teams miss out. Nevertheless, I genuinely believe this team can develop into a playoff caliber squad over time.”
After losing 12 of their first 20 games, the Bruins made the decision to part ways with Montgomery the previous Tuesday.
During his tenure in Boston, Montgomery secured 120 wins out of 184 regular season games, although the team’s playoff journey was short-lived, culminating in a first-round exit against Toronto last spring.
Montgomery’s first NHL coaching role with the Dallas Stars concluded in December 2019 when he was dismissed due to unprofessional conduct.
After this, Armstrong brought him on board in September 2020 to join Berube’s coaching staff.
Now, Armstrong has entrusted Montgomery with a fresh five-year contract and the expectation of guiding St. Louis back to the upper echelons of the league.
“I genuinely believe he is the right coach to work with this team now and as we move forward,” Armstrong commented on Sunday.
“The five-year commitment reflects that. I see the next chapter of Jim’s career involving stability in one place.”
Transitioning away from the Bruins, despite his success there, was no easy feat for Montgomery; however, he opted for a positive mindset from the start.
“I firmly believe that when one door closes, another one opens if you conduct yourself appropriately,” he shared.
“It boils down to the relationships you build in life. The five-year agreement demonstrates the commitment from Tom Stillman and the ownership group; we are collectively invested in this.”