The lack of “successful” contract extension talks was a contributing factor in yesterday’s decision to fire head coach Jim Montgomery, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters during his media availability Wednesday, including Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Montgomery signed a reported three-year, $6MM contract to take over as Boston’s bench boss in 2022, and the two sides had initial extension talks at the beginning of training camp, Sweeney said at the time. But an 8-9-3 start through 20 games, plus a likely multi-million dollar gap per season in extension negotiations, means Boston will instead be paying out most of Montgomery’s salary this season after relieving him of his duties.
If not sooner, Montgomery is well-positioned to become one of the higher-paid coaches in the league during next summer’s carousel. The Bruins’ 120-41-23 (.715) record since he took over is the best in the league, and the 2023 Jack Adams Award winner now has parts of five NHL seasons under his belt as a head coach, including his time with the Stars.
Elsewhere in the fall-out of Montgomery’s firing:
- Speaking with reporters today, Bruins leading scorer David Pastrňák has nothing but praise for Montgomery, saying the team’s failure to live up to expectations so far is on the players. “Because we weren’t getting it done, we lost a great coach and great human being,” Pastrňák said (via Anderson). That’s notable praise coming from a player who was called out by name during last year’s eventual first-round win over the Maple Leafs. While Pastrňák leads the league with 82 shots on goal, his 9.8% shooting percentage is tracking as a career-low, and his 33-goal pace after three straight seasons of 40 or more is one of many reasons why Boston’s offense has struggled to get off the ground at just 2.4 goals per game.
- Captain Brad Marchand had a similar sentiment, saying that the roster “feels terrible as a group” (per Anderson). The 36-year-old, along with Pastrňák, are the only two Bruins players with double-digit point totals this season. “This is a reflection of our play,” he continued. “If we had done our job in here, he’d still be here.”
Anaheim should be interested in Montgomery. Not so sure he’d be interested in Anaheim tho.
I like it. I could see him liking the young roster and climate. It would certainly be interesting to watch!
Leave it to Cling Neely, And Clang Sweeney, To refuse to pay one of the top coaches in the league what he is worth. And yet, Bruins management will throw extension money at the broken down Brad Marchand.
Not a good look on management when your star players are so consistently disappointed in public.
It evens out, the public is consistently disappointed in the so-called star player.
Sullivan for Montgomery, who says no?
I got a two time Cup winner who already says “cawhhh” for them, ready to go.
If the Blues miss the playoffs, which seems pretty likely, I think they should go after Montgomery. Nothing against Bannister, but Monty was their first choice last year I think, and there’s really no reason that should have changed.
Fire Sweeney. He pucked up this team and chemistry
Nothing will happen -Charlie Jacobs won’t cross Neely until Daddy sees more & more empty seats & less people paying for their outlandish prices
This just in from NHL.com — “Bruins players take blame for ‘avoidable’ coach firing”
Translation — “We’re sorry we burned the city down. We’re going to blame it on that lady’s cow knocking over the lantern in the barn.”
I will never understand y when a team fires their coach the put someone that’s already on the staff what would make them think things will change
Sweeney should be fired yesterday also the guy doesn’t know talent if is bit him in the azz horrible free agent signings horrible trades and last and most importantly he can’t draft for the life of him that’s probably y he’s perfectly fine trading all the draft picks away every year