John E&interval; Sokolowski-Imagn Photos
The Boston Bruins fired coach Jim Montgomery late Tuesday afternoon, and one other NHL staff ought to reap the benefits of that.
Simply sooner or later after the Bruins fell meekly to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 to fall to an 8-9-3 file this season, the Bruins changed Montgomery with interim coach Joe Sacco.
The B’s dropped three straight video games and 4 of their 5 video games main as much as Tuesday’s firing, and so they’ve been outscored 15-5 of their present three-game shedding skid. One thing needed to change in Beantown, and Montgomery paid the value for it together with his job solely two years after he gained the 2022-23 Jack Adams Award because the NHL’s greatest bench boss.
Related: Reaction: Bruins Can Jim Montgomery. How Unimaginative And Predictable Can You Get?
That stated, will probably be fascinating to see the place Montgomery will wind up getting his subsequent NHL teaching gig. There are a handful of groups under Boston within the standings that needed to be aggressive this season.
The Bruins firing Montgomery might be the primary of a handful of teaching modifications. After the Oilers fired Jay Woodcroft on Nov. 12, 2023, the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators modified coaches earlier than the tip of 2023.
Listed here are this author’s picks for 3 NHL groups that might rent Montgomery to be their subsequent coach. In alphabetical order:
Detroit Pink Wings
Just like the Bruins, the Pink Wings are off to a distressing begin to the season at 7-9-2.
Detroit GM Steve Yzerman might haven’t any selection however to fireside Derek Lalonde, who is just in his third 12 months working issues in Motown. There’s nonetheless time for the Wings to salvage their season, and if Montgomery have been to step in, he’s obtained the acumen and pedigree to get Detroit again heading in the right direction.
The Pink Wings need assistance on offense, however their protection is one thing Montgomery may handle. In Montgomery’s first two seasons with Boston, the Bruins had far and away the NHL’s greatest protection, permitting a median of simply 2.41 goals-against per sport in that span. The subsequent-best staff was Carolina, at 2.57.
Boston additionally had the NHL’s second-best penalty kill in these two years at 84.9 % effectivity. So Montgomery has the methods to impact optimistic change for Detroit in its personal zone. Now, the offense, defense, penalty kill and power play have looked rough in Boston this season, however that should not solely low cost what Montgomery completed within the years beforehand.
Related: NHL Coaches On The Hot Seat: Penguins’ Sullivan, Red Wings’ Lalonde Top List
Yzerman may additionally make a couple of roster modifications to change the Wings’ chemistry, however Montgomery’s presence could be a chilled one and one thing the Wings can profit from.
Nashville Predators
If the Bruins can hearth Montgomery this early within the season, the Predators can exchange coach Andrew Brunette, who has a brutal 6-10-3 file to start out the 12 months. They’re thirty first within the league.
Nashville GM Barry Trotz nonetheless needs his staff to vie for a Stanley Cup playoff berth, and the way in which to ship a message to Preds gamers that the 12 months isn’t a complete misplaced trigger is to herald a win-now coach like Montgomery.
Trotz did give Brunette a vote of confidence earlier in November and said he could begin his rebuilding plan instead if the team doesn’t improve. However they did not add Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault final summer season simply to promote veterans this season.
Related: Opinion: Predators GM’s Comments About A Rebuild Raise Doubts
The Predators’ offense has been the pits this season – they’re presently third-worst within the NHL with a goals-for common of simply 2.42 – however previously two seasons beneath Montgomery, the Bruins had the NHL’s sixth-best offense at 3.44 goals-for per sport. Regardless of Boston’s present skid, Montgomery proved he may instill confidence on offense in his expenses for the previous two seasons.
After being within the white-hot glare of the Boston market, Montgomery would possibly do nicely to be in a comparatively quieter media market, similar to Nashville. The Preds want to show their 12 months round shortly to have a shot at a playoff spot, and Montgomery might be the particular person to get them again right into a optimistic place.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Montgomery was the primary coach fired this season, however one of many common prediction in that regard – Penguins coach Mike Sullivan – is on the new seat. He is one other efficient coach who guided the staff to 2 Stanley Cup wins, but when they have not improved for not less than the final two seasons, a change would possibly spark the membership.
Pittsburgh’s abysmal 7-10-3 file ranks the staff twenty fifth within the league. The Pens even have simply 4 wins of their final 15 video games, and so they wanted a shootout to beat San Jose on Saturday.
It’s been ugly for the Penguins for a while now, and the writing feels prefer it’s on the wall for Sullivan and the Penguins. After he dismisses Sullivan, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would possibly look to Montgomery to return in, push Pittsburgh’s veteran-laden lineup into playoff competition and sneak up on opponents the remainder of the way in which this season.
Related: The Hockey News Big Show: Will The Bruins Or Penguins Shake Things Up First?
Montgomery can’t be anticipated to singlehandedly steer the Penguins again to glory after they simply don’t have the goaltending and depth to maintain them in video games evening in and evening out. However Montgomery could be a tonic for the remainder of the roster and supply Pens skaters with sufficient confidence to depart the latest previous behind them and switch the nook competitively.
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