St. Louis Blues basic supervisor Doug Armstrong abruptly determined to fireside Drew Bannister and substitute him with former Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.
In reality, the transfer was so sudden that Armstrong admitted that if Montgomery was nonetheless on the Bruins’ bench, Bannister would nonetheless be on the helm of the Blues.
“Once I wakened Wednesday morning, there was no inclination to make a training change,” Armstrong advised reporters, per team-provided video. ” After which when Jim acquired let go in Boston, it definitely was somebody I’ve revered, somebody I’ve admired, somebody I felt had all of the attributes to be a long-term coach for the Blues, and it began down that course of.
“So, this was extra of a chance to get somebody of Jim’s caliber than anything. … This choice, I might say, virtually 100% on having somebody of Jim’s caliber turn into accessible once I didn’t know that was going to occur.”
The Blues, just like the Bruins, started the season struggling, dropping to 9-12-1 and 6 factors out of a playoff spot within the Western Convention beneath Bannister. Armstrong identified the choice was not solely an indictment on Bannister’s shortcomings, however once more on Montgomery’s sudden availability from the Bruins.
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“Once I talked to Drew at the moment, I advised him this was extra of a choice based mostly on the supply of somebody I believe is a prime NHL coach,” Armstrong defined. “… Somebody I actually consider can coach this staff and likewise coach the staff when it reaches its final degree of competitiveness. (Jim’s) executed that.
“He’s labored with youthful gamers within the USHL and in faculty. Good success in Dallas, good success in Boston. He’s a kind of coaches that I actually do consider could be with this staff now and because it grows.”
Armstrong added he was prepared to undergo the struggles with Bannister — till Montgomery was let go by the Bruins.
“I used to be prepared to undergo the peaks and the valleys with Drew,” he stated. “Till Monty grew to become accessible. After which it simply felt that (the chance to rent Jim) won’t be there over the subsequent few years, and I didn’t know when the subsequent alternative would come, and I felt it was the best factor for the Blues franchise to get somebody like Monty right here after we may.”
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The Blues went 39-31-6 in 76 video games beneath Bannister. Montgomery was 120-41-23 with the Bruins, together with the very best single-season win whole in NHL historical past (65-12-5) in 2022-23.
Montgomery is anticipated to make his debut on the Blues bench in New York when the Blues face the Rangers at Madison Sq. Backyard on Monday night time.