St. Louis Blues common supervisor Doug Armstrong abruptly determined to fireplace Drew Bannister and change him with former Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.
The truth is, the transfer was so sudden that Armstrong admitted that if Montgomery was nonetheless on the Bruins’ bench, Bannister would nonetheless be on the helm of the Blues.
“After I wakened Wednesday morning, there was no inclination to make a training change,” Armstrong informed reporters, per team-provided video. ” After which when Jim acquired let go in Boston, it definitely was somebody I’ve revered, somebody I’ve admired, somebody I felt had all of the attributes to be a long-term coach for the Blues, and it began down that course of.
“So, this was extra of a possibility to get somebody of Jim’s caliber than the rest. … This resolution, I might say, virtually 100% on having somebody of Jim’s caliber turn out to be obtainable once I didn’t know that was going to occur.”
The Blues, much like the Bruins, started the season struggling, dropping to 9-12-1 and 6 factors out of a playoff spot within the Western Convention below Bannister. Armstrong identified the choice was not totally an indictment on Bannister’s shortcomings, however once more on Montgomery’s sudden availability from the Bruins.
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“After I talked to Drew at the moment, I informed him this was extra of a call primarily based on the supply of somebody I feel is a prime NHL coach,” Armstrong defined. “… Somebody I actually imagine can coach this workforce and in addition coach the workforce when it reaches its final degree of competitiveness. (Jim’s) executed that.
“He’s labored with youthful gamers within the USHL and in faculty. Good success in Dallas, good success in Boston. He’s a type of coaches that I actually do imagine may be with this workforce now and because it grows.”
Armstrong added he was prepared to undergo the struggles with Bannister — till Montgomery was let go by the Bruins.
“I used to be prepared to undergo the peaks and the valleys with Drew,” he mentioned. “Till Monty grew to become obtainable. After which it simply felt that (the chance to rent Jim) may not be there over the following few years, and I didn’t know when the following alternative would come, and I felt it was the best factor for the Blues franchise to get somebody like Monty right here after we may.”
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The Blues went 39-31-6 in 76 video games below Bannister. Montgomery was 120-41-23 with the Bruins, together with the best single-season win whole in NHL historical past (65-12-5) in 2022-23.
Montgomery is anticipated to make his debut on the Blues bench in New York when the Blues face the Rangers at Madison Sq. Backyard on Monday night time.
