Jim Montgomery reflects on up-and-down tenure as Bruins coach

In relation to trying again on his quick tenure as Bruins bench boss, Jim Montgomery echoed a sentiment shared by many about his two-plus seasons in Boston. 

It was sophisticated. 

As spectacular as his report was in Boston (120-41-23), Montgomery’s run noticed him and the Authentic Six franchise each attain new heights — and sink to some devastating lows. 

Again in Boston for the primary time since his firing in November 2024, Montgomery acknowledged that succinctly summing up his time with the Bruins is a process simpler mentioned than accomplished. 

“Nice reminiscences — the disappointing reminiscence too, of the first-round loss to Florida [in 2023],” Montgomery said Thursday at TD Garden. “However for me, it’s all the time about individuals, the good gamers, the administration that I obtained the chance to work with. All people right here made me higher.”

The now-Blues coach isn’t focused on dwelling on the faults that undercut a run that began with a record-setting 12 months at TD Backyard.

Throughout Montgomery’s first 12 months on the helm with the Bruins, Boston set new league information for wins (65) and complete factors (135) in a single season. That miraculous run led to catastrophe, as Boston coughed up a 3-1 sequence edge and misplaced to the Panthers within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

A Bruins franchise transferring ahead following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci rebounded in 2023-24 with 47 wins and a first-round sequence victory over Toronto, however issues went south in a rush throughout Montgomery’s third 12 months with the membership.

Regardless of opening the 2024-25 marketing campaign with playoff aspirations as soon as once more, Boston stumbled out of the gate with an 8-9-3 report — with Montgomery ultimately getting a pink slip on Nov. 19, 2024.

It didn’t take lengthy for Montgomery to land on his toes, because the St. Louis Blues fired their coach, Drew Bannister, and handed Montgomery a five-year contract simply 5 days after Boston let him go. 

That fast turnaround didn’t precisely assuage the ache Montgomery felt when the Bruins opted to chop ties with him. 

“I don’t know. I imply, it occurred so shortly. I used to be nonetheless within the mode of ‘The place did I’m going incorrect? What did I do incorrect?’ After which abruptly, the cellphone rings and you bought to begin [preparing],” Montgomery said, per Jim McBride of The Boston Globe. “It helps you recover from it faster, however I nonetheless felt like it will’ve been wholesome to have extra time. That’s simply the best way my mind works.”

The Blues responded beneath Montgomery, crawling again into playoff rivalry and taking the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets to seven video games within the first spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Regardless of holding a two-goal lead within the third interval, St. Louis in the end fell to Winnipeg in double additional time. 

Boston’s fortunes after firing Montgomery have been much more grim. 

Regardless of receiving a slight enhance following the appointment of interim head coach Joe Sacco, Boston plummeted down the standings because the season carried on — prompting Don Sweeney to deal away lineup regulars like Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Trent Frederic, and others. 

Even with Boston closing out the 2024-25 marketing campaign with a 33-39-10 report, Montgomery didn’t really feel any validation over his former crew’s sustained struggles after his exit. 

“I don’t assume any time groups fail, it’s only one individual. It’s unimaginable,” Montgomery instructed McBride. All people had a hand within the success of the good 12 months that we had the one season, [and] all people had a hand in why we failed final 12 months,” he mentioned. “And I might say the identical factor 1764901931 as a result of in St. Louis final 12 months all people had a hand in why we took off like we did, and this 12 months why we struggled, the identical factor, all people had a hand in it.”

The street hasn’t been as straightforward this season for Montgomery and the Blues, who at the moment sit exterior of the playoff image within the Western Convention with a Sep 11-7 report. 

However, the trials and tribulations that Montgomery went via throughout Boston has him higher ready to deal with the adversity set in entrance of him this winter. 

“There was no query that I used to be higher ready to deal with the shortage of success than I used to be final 12 months. And expectations drive loads of that,” Montgomery instructed McBride. “Final 12 months, the expectations have been that we have been going to be a playoff crew. Didn’t work. So, all people has these excessive expectations. Type of like going to a film.

‘I keep in mind going to see ‘The Traditional Suspects.’ Nobody instructed me it was an important film. I left there floored. I needed to go watch it three extra occasions to determine who Keyser Soze was. However then I’ve gone to motion pictures the place persons are like, ‘This film is the very best film ever,’ and I go away midway via. ‘Pulp Fiction,’ I left midway via, as a result of so many individuals mentioned it was so nice. It’s like 10 mini tales in a single film. It’s not the best way my mind works. However that’s what occurs with sports activities groups, as properly.”

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author protecting the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.