Blues hire former Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery just days after his dismissal
It didn't take very long for former Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery to find a new home.
Montgomery was hired by the St. Louis Blues on Sunday after they fired their head coach, Drew Banister. The former Bruins’ leader was out of a job for just five days after he was fired following the team’s slow start to begin the season.
The Bruins let go of Montgomery after the team lost 12 of their first 20 games and failed to make any adjustments to get the team back on track.
Bannister had been on the job for the Blues for less than a year since succeeding 2019 Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube and getting the interim tag removed after last season. The Blues have lost 13 of their first 22 games this season, prompting his dismissal.
Montgomery will get a five-year contract with the Blues and will be the 28th head coach in the Blues’ franchise history.
With Montgomery in the fold for the Blues, he brings experience and success behind the bench. The 55-year-old former player is 180-84-33 in the regular season—a points percentage of .659 that ranks among the best in league history.
The Blues are set to play their first game under Montgomery on Monday night when they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins on Saturday played their second contest following Montgomery’s exit and improved to 2-0 in the Joe Sacco era.
The Bruins and Blues have already played each other twice this season and will not play again this year.
