Former St. Louis Blues assistant coach Jim Montgomery’s firing by the Boston Bruins hit close to home for Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who had a personal connection with Montgomery. Berube brought Montgomery on board in St. Louis, where he worked for two years before joining the Bruins for the 2022-23 season.
Montgomery’s tenure in Boston started off strong with a historic 65-win campaign in his first season, but the team struggled in the playoffs, leading to his eventual dismissal. Despite adding key players like Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov in the offseason, the Bruins have struggled to find chemistry and consistency, resulting in a disappointing 8-9-3 start to the season.
Joe Sacco will step in as the interim head coach as Boston looks to turn things around. Montgomery’s ability to connect with players and his track record of success in the regular season were not enough to save his job in Boston’s competitive coaching landscape. Berube’s comments reflect the harsh reality of the coaching business, where personal relationships can be tested by professional decisions.
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