After a slow start to the season, Boston fired Jim Montgomery as head coach in 2024, just 20 games after the Bruins were looking in a new direction.
Bruins Sack Montgomery
The Bruins have won just eight NHL games from opening 20 this season. After such a characteristically poor start to the year, manager Jim Montgomery was fired.
2024 was his third year in charge of the Montgomery’s Bruins, and despite a record-breaking first season in Boston, the 2022 and 2023 playoff struggles left a sour taste in the mouth.
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced today, November 19th that the team has released Jim Montgomery from his duties as head coach.
Associate Coach Joe Sacco will assume the interim head coaching duties.
📰: https://t.co/g6egj3bmzx pic.twitter.com/x41b6sjbyl
– Boston Bruins (@nhlbrins) November 19, 2024
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney spoke to the media on Tuesday to explain why Boston had to make the decision to loot Montgomery.
“Jim Montgomery is a very good NHL coach and even better,” Sweeney said. “The team’s inconsistencies and performances in the first 20 games of the 2024-25 season are concerning how the Bruins want to reward their fans.”
In his three years in charge of Bruins Montgomery, he finished with a record of 120-41-23 (0.715 wins), and played the postseason twice.
In 184 games, #nhlbrin He lost just 41 times to restrictions under Jim Montgomery.
41 times in 184 games.
A .715 point percentage of 120-41-23 record.
– Frank_seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 19, 2024
Assistant coach Joe Sacco takes over moving forward with interim head coaching, but the Bruins have yet to announce their search for a new head coach.
“I think Joe Sacco has experience in coaching to get players and teams back, focusing on the consistent efforts needed to succeed in the NHL,” Sweeney said. “We will continue to strive to make the necessary adjustments to meet the standards and performance that support fans expect.”
When Boston makes the playoffs this year and first uploads for the new interim coach, Sacco will be playing against Utah on Thursday night.
