Last November, Don Sweeney made what he thought was a necessary move. After a humiliating 5-1 loss to Columbus, the Bruins GM fired head coach Jim Montgomery. The decision seemed straightforward at the time – a struggling team needed a shake-up. But like so many Bruins decisions lately, it backfired spectacularly.
A Tale of Two Franchises
What’s happened since tells the real story:
– In St. Louis:Montgomery, immediately hired by the Blues, has led the team to a franchise-record 12-game winning streak
– In Boston:The Bruins spiraled into a 10-game losing skid under interim coach Joe Sacco
– The Irony:Montgomery’s Blues just beat Colorado 5-4 while the Bruins barely snapped their slump with a 5-1 win over Carolina
The Pattern Nobody Wants to See
This isn’t the first time Boston’s management has misdiagnosed their problems:
– 2022-23: Montgomery guides Bruins to NHL-record 65 wins
– 2023 Playoffs: First-round exit (but management keeps him)
– 2024: With weaker roster, slow start gets Montgomery fired
– Present: Blues thriving with same coach Bruins discarded
The Hard Truth
While Montgomery has St. Louis playing like Cup contenders, Boston faces uncomfortable questions:
✓ Two Jack Adams-winning coaches fired in three years
✓ Identical roster issues persist through coaching changes
✓ Blues getting results with “Bruins reject” coach
Bottom Line
The evidence keeps mounting – Boston’s problems start in the front office, not behind the bench. As Montgomery’s Blues charge toward the playoffs, the Bruins are left with another lost season and more tough questions about who’s really responsible for this mess.
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