Sunday morning, the St. Louis Blues struck a major blow by announcing the hiring of Jim Montgomery as new head coach for a five-year contract.
Montgomery replaces Drew Bannister, who was fired after a horrible start to the season.
This decision, applauded by several analysts, caused a real earthquake in Montreal, where the Canadian’s supporters could not digest that their team had “let slip” the one they saw as the ideal savior.
The CH, caught in a laborious reconstruction and plagued by irregular performances, now sees its head coach, Martin St-Louis, become the target of scathing criticism. Social networks are on fire:
“The Blues make decisions to win, the CH prefers to remain a country club”, proclaims an angry Internet user.
“Hughes refuses to fire his friend St-Louis, and we, the fans, pay the price”writes another.
The hiring of Montgomery by the Blues is seen as an affront by many Canadian fans, who criticize management for lacking vision and courage.
Martin St-Louis, although charismatic and initially perceived as a breath of fresh air, is increasingly criticized for his deficient defensive system, his lack of experience and his questionable management of young talents.
For many, Jim Montgomery was the perfect solution to turn around the Canadian.
A native of Montreal.
Perfectly bilingual, he would have understood the unique requirements of the Montreal market.
An experienced and respected trainer.
Winner of the Jack Adams Trophy in 2022, Montgomery is recognized for his ability to maximize the potential of his players, even in difficult contexts.
It must be believed that the friendship between Hughes and St-Louis was stronger than reason.
Some believe that Hughes preferred to protect his friend, a gesture seen as shameful in a market as demanding as Montreal.
Loyalty to St. Louis is becoming ridiculous.
Hughes may have considered it premature to fire a coach still in the midst of a rebuilding phase, even if results are slow in coming.
But in reality, he protected…a friend.
The Blues did not hesitate.
Dissatisfied with Drew Bannister’s leadership, they made a bold move to secure the services of an elite-caliber coach.
This proactivity contrasts sharply with the situation in Montreal, where Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton seem hesitant to act despite the team’s disappointing results.
The expression often comes up in supporters’ criticisms: the Canadian has become a country club, where friendship and comfort take precedence over performance.
Many criticize Kent Hughes for protecting Martin St-Louis, a long-time friend, to the detriment of the team’s interests.
No real pressure on St-Louis: Despite repeated errors, particularly in defensive management, St-Louis seems untouchable.
Lack of urgency: The Blues demonstrated that they were ready to act quickly to improve their situation. The CH seems paralyzed, incapable of making courageous decisions.
Partisans and analysts are no longer holding back:
“The Blues take Montgomery and we stay with a pee-wee coach. Well done ! »
“Hughes could have offered Montgomery this contract, but no, he prefers to protect his ‘bro’. »
Some even see this decision as a strategic failure on the part of Montreal management, which failed to capitalize on a unique opportunity.
Others, more pessimistic, see it as a symptom of an organization that has lacked ambition for several years.
With the arrival of Jim Montgomery, the Blues send a clear message: they will not settle for mediocrity.
Drew Bannister, although appreciated, was not spared. This change demonstrates that the organization strives for excellence, even if it means making difficult decisions.
For the Canadian, this comparison is overwhelming. While St. Louis struggles to motivate its players and install an effective system, Montgomery brings to St. Louis experience and rigor that could transform the Blues into serious contenders in the coming years.
For Martin St-Louis, the situation is becoming untenable.
With Montgomery now out of reach, the criticism will only intensify with each defeat. If the CH’s performance does not improve quickly, Kent Hughes could find himself forced to dismiss his friend to calm the storm.
In the meantime, the contrast between the audacity of the Blues and the country club of the Canadian highlights the deep problems of the Montreal organization.
In a market as heated as Montreal, executive decisions never go unnoticed — and St. Louis’ hiring of Montgomery will long be remembered as a missed opportunity.
One thing is certain: Martin St-Louis is going to get his ears blown today.
Jim Montgomery should be head coach of the Montreal Canadiens as we speak.
Kent Hughes will regret it…for life…
