NEW YORK – When new Blues coach Jim Montgomery appeared before reporters at Madison Square Garden wearing a dark blue sweatshirt emblazoned with the team's famous Blue Note logo, there was no inhibition about his feelings.
Montgomery was an assistant with the Blues from 2020-22 and is thrilled to be back with St. Louis.
“Crazy – there’s no other word for it,” the 55-year-old said after being fired by the Boston Bruins and hired by St. Louis to replace Drew Bannister. “I have worked with more than half of this cast and know how dedicated they are. For me it was a given that I would come back home.”
The Blues — who missed the playoffs last season after Bannister succeeded 2019 Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube in December — still have work to do. They started the season 9-12-1, only two teams have scored fewer than their 2.36 goals per game, and they rank in the bottom third of the league on the power play and penalty kill.
Montgomery led the Bruins to a record-setting 65 wins and 135 points season in 2022-23 and was named Coach of the Year. When he became available, Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong pounced.
“When you get a call and hear about Doug Armstrong's plan and know that you're a big part of it, you feel like it's the right place,” Montgomery said. “The best sentence that captivated me is: 'If something tasty falls on my plate, I eat it.' I don't know. I guess I was T-Bone that day.”
Every NHL team that Montgomery has coached for a full season has qualified for the playoffs, and his .659 batting average is among the best in league history.
“I believe in this group,” Montgomery said. “It’s not easy to make the playoffs in this league. Half the teams miss it. But I think over time this will be a caliber playoff team.”
The Blues players reacted positively to the coaching change.
“He’s detailed and structured, but at the same time he lets the guys play hockey,” captain Brayden Schenn said. “He’s a guy you definitely want to play for and has had success in this league.”
Robert Thomas, a first-round draft pick by St. Louis in 2017, now in his seventh season with the Blues, said he was sorry to see Bannister go but was glad to have the energetic Montgomery back as head coach be.
“He was a big help to me and someone I could really rely on a few years ago,” Thomas said. “Many of us have great respect for him. He has a big personality.”
The Bruins fired Montgomery after losing 12 of their first 20 games. Boston won 120 of 184 regular-season games with Montgomery on the bench, although its playoff success was limited to a first-round win over Toronto last spring.
His first NHL coaching job with the Dallas Stars ended when he was fired for unprofessional conduct in December 2019.
Armstrong hired Montgomery as Berube's employee in September 2020. Now he gave his new coach a new five-year contract and the expectation of helping St. Louis climb back into the league's elite ranks.
“He's one of those coaches that I really believe can help this team now and as it grows,” Armstrong said. “The proof of that is the five-year commitment. One of the things I think is the next part of Jim’s career is getting that longevity in one place.”
It wasn't easy leaving the Bruins after the success in Boston, but Montgomery said he immediately decided to adopt a positive attitude.
“I am a firm believer that if you do the right thing, a door will open,” he said. “It’s about your relationships in life. … The five-year agreement demonstrates the commitment of Tom Stillman and the ownership group that we can do this together.”
