The Boston Bruins have fired head coach Jim Montgomery, the group introduced on Tuesday. The change comes amidst a disappointing begin to the Bruins after basic supervisor Don Sweeney spent huge cash making an attempt to improve the roster within the offseason.
Boston is 8-9-3 by 20 video games, and the group simply suffered an embarrassing 5-1 dwelling loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night time. Which may have been the ultimate strike in opposition to Montgomery, who was in his third season behind the Bruins’ bench.
In a prolonged assertion, Sweeney mentioned the group’s on-ice efficiency wasn’t dwelling as much as expectations. Sweeney additionally expressed confidence in interim head coach Joe Sacco.
“Our group’s inconsistency and efficiency within the first 20 video games of the 2024-25 season has been regarding and beneath how the Bruins wish to reward our followers. I imagine Joe Sacco has the teaching expertise to deliver the gamers and the group again to specializing in the constant effort the NHL requires to have success. We’ll proceed to work to make the required changes to satisfy the usual and efficiency our supportive followers anticipate.”
The Bruins employed Montgomery in 2022, and he instantly led the group to the best common season in NHL historical past with 65 wins and 135 factors, and the league’s Presidents’ Trophy that goes together with that accomplishment. That postseason, Boston blew a 3-1 result in the eventual Jap Convention champion Florida Panthers within the first spherical.
Final season, Boston nonetheless put up 109 factors underneath Montgomery and defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs within the first spherical of the playoffs. Then, for the second 12 months in a row, the Bruins got here up quick in a seven-game collection in opposition to the Panthers.
Sweeney signed heart Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov to huge contracts over the summer season in hopes of creating a deep playoff run this season. Nevertheless, the brand new additions have didn’t click on, and the remainder of the roster hasn’t been capable of choose up sufficient of the slack.
Montgomery leaves the Bruins with an general file of 120-41-23.
Sacco will now attempt to get the Bruins again on monitor in his first head teaching gig since his four-year stint with the Colorado Avalanche from 2009-2013. He went 130-134-30 with one playoff look in that point.
