In a whirlwind week that sent shockwaves through the NHL, Jim Montgomery finds himself back where his coaching journey truly took flight—behind the bench of the St. Louis Blues. Sporting the iconic blue note logo that has become synonymous with his success, Montgomery couldn’t contain his elation as he addressed the media at Madison Square Garden.
“Crazy—there’s no other word for it,” Montgomery beamed, his enthusiasm palpable. The 55-year-old mastermind, who served as an assistant with the Blues from 2020 to 2022, feels right at home in the Gateway City. “I have worked with over half this lineup already, and I know how committed they are. For me, this was a no-brainer to come back home.”
Blues Banking on Montgomery Magic
The Blues, a franchise still reeling from missing the playoffs last season after a coaching change midstream, are banking on Montgomery to recapture the magic that propelled them to the Stanley Cup in 2019. With a 9-12-1 start to the current campaign, languishing near the bottom in scoring and special teams, the Blues are in desperate need of a spark.
Enter Montgomery, fresh off a record-setting 65-win, 135-point season with the Bruins that earned him the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. When the opportunity to bring Montgomery back into the fold presented itself, Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong wasted no time.
“When you get a phone call and you hear Doug Armstrong’s plan and how you’re a big part of it, that makes you feel it is the right place to go,” Montgomery revealed. “The best line that put his hooks into me is, ‘When something delicious falls on my plate, I eat.’ I don’t know. I guess I was a T-bone that day.”
– Jim Montgomery on his decision to return to St. Louis
A Proven Track Record
Montgomery’s track record speaks for itself. Every NHL team he has coached for a full season has qualified for the playoffs, and his .659 points percentage ranks among the best in league history. It’s a pedigree that has the Blues dreaming of a return to glory.
“I believe in this group,” Montgomery declared. “It’s not easy to make the playoffs in this league. Half the teams miss it. But I do think that in time this is a caliber playoff team.”
– Jim Montgomery on the Blues’ potential
Embracing a Fresh Start
For Montgomery, the abrupt end to his tenure in Boston, where he led the Bruins to 120 regular-season wins and a playoff series victory over Toronto, hasn’t dampened his spirits. Instead, he’s embracing the fresh start with the Blues, buoyed by a five-year contract and the unwavering support of the organization.
“I’m a firm believer that when one door closes, another one opens if you do the right thing,” Montgomery philosophized. “It’s about your relationships in life. The five-year deal shows the commitment of Tom Stillman and the ownership group, that we are in this together.”
– Jim Montgomery on his positive outlook
The Road Ahead
As Montgomery prepares to lead the Blues into battle, he understands the challenges that lie ahead. But armed with an intimate knowledge of the roster, a wealth of coaching experience, and an unshakable belief in his players, he’s ready to tackle those challenges head-on.
The NHL is a league where fortunes can change in an instant, where one coaching move can be the difference between a early tee times and a deep playoff run. In Jim Montgomery, the Blues believe they have found the key to unlocking their vast potential and restoring their place among the NHL’s elite.
The journey begins anew in St. Louis, with a familiar face at the helm and a hunger to prove that last season was an aberration, not the new norm. As the puck drops on the Montgomery era, Blues fans dare to dream once more, their hopes inextricably linked to the man in the blue sweatshirt with the steely resolve and the unwavering belief in the power of second chances.
