Jim Montgomery was named coach of the Boston Bruins on Friday.
The 53-year-old replaces Bruce Cassidy, who was fired June 7 following six seasons. Boston (51-26-5) has qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of Cassidy’s six campaigns, but the team hasn’t made it past the second round since losing in Stanley Cup final once morest the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
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“The Boston Bruins are pleased to announce that Jim Montgomery is the new coach of the Boston Bruins and to welcome Jim, his wife Emily and his children JP, Colin, Ava and Olivia to the city of Boston,” said the general manager Don Sweeney. “Jim has a track record of success, and during the interview process he demonstrated his ability to bond with all types of players, while requiring his teams to follow a structure. We are excited that Jim can put his stamp on our team. »
Montgomery has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Blues, including helping them reach the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, where they lost in six games to the Colorado Avalanche. Previously, he managed the Dallas Stars for two seasons before being fired on December 10, 2019 due to unprofessional conduct. He later revealed that he was receiving help for alcohol use issues and was going to enter an addiction treatment program.
Montgomery went 61-43-10 with Dallas.
“Sometimes it takes a huge consequence in your life to get through it,” he explained of his journey when he was hired by the Blues on September 16, 2020. “I didn’t know that I was on the wrong track, and when I figured it out, I realized I had a problem and it was time to work on it to get out of it. I’ve been sober for over nine months now, and I’m so grateful for what’s happened, because I’m a much better person every day, and obviously a better husband, father, and son to the people that matter. the most for me. »
Montgomery was hired by the Stars following spending five seasons coaching at the University of Denver, where he won the NCAA championship in 2016-17. He was also named NCAA Coach of the Year that season. As a player, Montgomery won an NCAA championship with the University of Maine in 1993 and played 122 NHL games as a forward with the Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and the stars.
Montgomery is the eighth coach to be hired since the conclusion of the regular season. Lane Lambert was named coach of the New York Islanders on May 16, Bruce Cassidy took Peter DeBoer’s place at the helm of the Vegas Golden Knights on June 17, the same day John Tortorella was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers . DeBoer was named coach of the Dallas Stars on June 21, and Paul Maurice was offered the job behind the bench for the Florida Panthers on June 22. Luke Richardson was hired by the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, while Derek Lalonde became the Detroit Red Wings’ new coach on Thursday.
The Winnipeg Jets and Sharks are the only teams still without a coach in the NHL.
