Montgomery Takes Helm as St. Louis Blues Head Coach
The winds of change are blowing through the St. Louis Blues organization as Jim Montgomery returns to a city and team he knows well, this time as the head coach. Having served as an assistant coach with the Blues from 2020 to 2022, Montgomery now assumes the top coaching position left vacant after Drew Bannister's brief and tumultuous tenure.
Last season, the Blues found themselves on the outside looking in, missing the playoffs under Bannister's leadership. It was a challenging period that saw Bannister take the reins from Craig Berube mid-season but failing to reverse the team's fortunes. This season hasn't started much better, with a 9-12-1 record highlighting ongoing struggles, especially in specialty teams, where they rank in the bottom third for both power play and penalty kill.
A Familiar Face with Proven Track Record
Montgomery brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record. Despite a recent rough patch with the Boston Bruins, where he experienced a 12-out-of-20 game losing streak, Montgomery's career boasts an impressive .659 points percentage. His recent tenure with the Bruins was punctuated by a remarkable 65-win, 135-point season in 2022-23, earning him the coveted Coach of the Year award.
The move to the Blues seems to be a natural fit for Montgomery, who stated, "When you get a phone call and you hear Doug Armstrong's plan and how you're a big part of it, that makes you feel it is the right place to go." The familiarity and past relationships with more than half of the Blues lineup only sweeten the deal. "I have worked with over half this lineup already, and I know how committed they are," Montgomery affirmed, underscoring his excitement about reuniting with the team. "For me, this was a no-brainer for me to come back home."
Management's Confidence and Commitment
Key to Montgomery's decision was the commitment from the Blues management, spearheaded by President and General Manager Doug Armstrong and supported by the ownership group led by Tom Stillman. The three offered Montgomery a five-year deal that signals long-term faith and investment in his abilities. "The five-year deal shows the commitment of Tom Stillman and the ownership group, that we are in this together," Montgomery acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of strong relationships and a shared vision for future success.
This sentiment was echoed by Doug Armstrong, who expressed his belief in Montgomery's ability to lead the team through its current challenges and beyond. "He's one of those coaches that I really do believe can be with this team now and as it grows," Armstrong stated, indicating a desire for continuity and growth within the organization.
Challenges Ahead and the Path Forward
While Montgomery is optimistic about the potential within the current Blues roster, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. With their current average of 2.36 goals per game highlighting offensive struggles and their subpar special teams performance, improvements need to be swift and decisive. Yet, Montgomery remains undeterred. "It's not easy to make the playoffs in this league. Half the teams miss it. But I do think that in time this is a caliber playoff team," he commented, acknowledging both the difficulty of the task ahead and the potential he sees in the squad.
As the Blues aim to bounce back from their recent postseason absence, Montgomery's appointment offers hope and the promise of high-caliber leadership. His blend of familiarity with the team, coupled with a career marked by significant achievements, positions him as an ideal candidate to steer the Blues into a new era.
With Montgomery at the helm, the Blues faithful can look forward to a renewed focus on reaching the playoffs and, ultimately, a run at the Stanley Cup. Under his guidance, potentially another door of opportunity may swing open for this storied franchise—a prospect the St. Louis fans eagerly anticipate.