Yesterday, the Blues surprised the hockey world by hiring Jim Montgomery. After all, the club already had a manager in place and there was nothing to suggest he was on an ejection seat.
But even if the Blues were not planning to change coaches, seeing a man of Jim Montgomery’s caliber available made the change possible and a dismissal took place.
Doug Armstrong said it: if the Bruins don’t change coaches, Drew Bannister is still in St. Louis as of this writing.
When a coach of his caliber, who has connections to the city of St. Louis (he started his career in St. Louis, he lives there during the summer because his wife is from the area and he was an assistant there -low recently), is available, it attracts attention.
And Doug Armstrong, who knows Don Sweeney well due to their role with Hockey Canada, had no problem asking permission to chat to him in the final days.
All this to say that the world of hockey is a world where the timing is very important. This is why all NHL coaches must watch their backs.
And that’s what makes me ask: who is Martin St-Louis’ Jim Montgomery? Who is this coach who could make CH management say that a change is the right thing to do?
Let it be said: the situation is different in Montreal because in Saint-Louis, Montgomery was hired with the goal of bringing the club back to the playoffs. CH is not looking to save its season at this point.
The last time the CH did what the Blues did was when Claude Julien was fired from Boston, in fact.
Expectations are not the same in Montreal as in Saint-Louis, but we must remember that each defeat like the one suffered by CH on Saturday leaves its mark.
No, I’m not saying that Martin St-Louis’ position is in danger. But I wonder: if Jim Montgomery, whom Renaud Lavoie has already linked to the Canadian in the past, had been fired in three months and the CH had continued to lose like this, what would the management of the Flanelle have thought?
Nobody has the answer to that, obviously, since it’s hypothetical. But the reflection is interesting to me.
Remember that Pascal Vincent, in the AHL, does a good job within the Canadiens organization – and he speaks French. One day, will he be the one we see leading the CH – and who will win the Stanley Cup? Who knows.
All I’m saying is that a coach should not take his position for granted. If David Ross (Chicago Cubs) lost his job as manager after seeing his bosses praise his work just because Craig Counsell was available (a la Jim Montgomery), anything is possible.
And because the club seems to be regressing, let’s say that discontent is growing.
Note that hearing the fans booing the club should not go unnoticed by the Canadian. It’s happened a few times this season since fans know when the club isn’t giving enough.
Everyone needs to watch their backs at times like these.
In burst
– Indeed.
– To be monitored.
– What do you say?
