Monday wasn’t a gameday for the Boston Bruins. But it surely was for his or her former head coach.
Jim Montgomery wasn’t out of a job for lengthy after the Bruins fired him final Tuesday. Montgomery rapidly took the pinnacle teaching reins of the St. Louis Blues 5 days later and guided his new group to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Sq. Backyard on Monday evening.
It might need been somewhat unusual to see Montgomery take place behind one other bench so rapidly, however veteran Bruins ahead Charlie Coyle was thrilled to see him not be out of a job for lengthy.
“You all the time need the most effective for somebody you labored with, who we received together with, who was a part of us for two-and-a-half years,” Coyle informed MassLive on Monday. “That’s the best-case state of affairs is to see a man who’s type of down and out as a result of, not him, it’s all of us, proper? He’s out, he leaves the group. So to see a man get proper again on his toes, five-year deal, that’s superior. I’m so completely happy for him. We wish him to be right here however issues work out a sure approach and that’s the best-case state of affairs for him.
“I’m positive there’s nonetheless some emotions. However I’m positive he’s pumped to get proper again in it and get a long-term deal like that for him and his household. That’s large. I’m so completely happy for him.”
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It doesn’t seem that Coyle is the one Bruins participant who felt that approach towards Montgomery. Montgomery revealed that upon being named the Blues head coach, a number of Bruins gamers despatched him well-wishes through textual content message.
Joe Sacco additionally made positive to attach with Montgomery and the Bruins interim head coach wasn’t shocked to see Montgomery get rapidly again on his toes.
“I texted Monty and wished him congratulations,” Sacco informed reporters, per MassLive’s Matt Vautour and Lauren Campbell. “I believe I stated the opposite day he’s gonna land on his toes and clearly he did in a short time. So I’m very completely happy for him and his household, particularly the truth that that’s principally their house. It’s an amazing alternative.”
That is Montgomery’s second stint with the Blues, who had been off to a 9-12-1 begin beneath Drew Bannister earlier than hiring Montgomery, after he was an assistant coach with St. Louis from 2020-22.
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And he’ll look to make the identical influence there that he made with the Bruins, as evidenced by his former co-workers reaching out following a troublesome departure.