The Boston Bruins made a tough decision to fire coach Jim Montgomery after a disappointing start to the season. The team announced the change after playing 20 games and only managing to win 8 of them. This put them outside of a playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, prompting the organization to take action.
General manager Don Sweeney expressed his gratitude for Montgomery’s contributions to the team, both as a coach and as a person. However, he emphasized that the team’s inconsistent performance in the early part of the season was not up to the Bruins’ standards. Sweeney believed that interim head coach Joe Sacco, who has previous coaching experience with the Colorado Avalanche, could help the team refocus and strive for better results.
Montgomery had an impressive record during his time with the Bruins, making the playoffs twice but falling short against the Florida Panthers. Despite winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year, Montgomery’s contract was not extended beyond the current season. The Bruins struggled this season, ranking poorly in both offense and defense, with goaltending being a significant issue.
The decision to let go of Montgomery marks the first coaching change of the 2024-25 season in the NHL. Sacco, who is now the interim head coach, is the fourth head coach under Sweeney’s leadership as general manager. Team president Cam Neely expressed his support for the decision, believing that Sacco’s experience and knowledge of the roster could help steer the team in the right direction.
The Bruins’ fans have high expectations for their team, and the organization is committed to meeting those expectations. While Montgomery’s tenure had its successes, the team felt that a change was necessary to address the current challenges they were facing on the ice. With Sacco at the helm, the Bruins will look to turn their season around and work towards a more successful future.
