Report: Boston Bruins set to hire Jim Montgomery as new head coach

The Boston Bruins are set to hire Jim Montgomery as their new head coach, according to multiple sources.

The Bruins had a vacant head coaching position after firing Bruce Cassidy, who was at the helm for six seasons and never missed the playoffs. Montgomery would become the 29th head coach in the Bruins’ 98-year history as a franchise.

Montgomery is a bit of a surprise hire for the Bruins, as many reports had their coaching search up to three candidates in David Quinn, Mike Vellucci and Jay Leach. But, the Bruins seem to have found their coach in Montgomery.

Montgomery has only two years of NHL head coaching experience with the Dallas Stars during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, although he was head coach at the University of Denver in over the previous five seasons. He was 60-43-10 with the Stars and led the team to the second round of the 2019 playoffs after a surprise upset against the Nashville Predators.

He was fired on December 19, 2019 due to inappropriate conduct and later checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse. he was then named assistant coach of the St. Louis Blues for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. It’s been a long recovery for Montgomery, but he’s finally ready for a second chance in the NHL.

This hiring is another thing off the Bruins’ offseason priority list. They already re-signed captain and reigning Selke Trophy winner Patrice Bergeron to a one-year deal when many thought he might retire, and now they’ve filled their head coaching job. That said, the team still has several key players missing from the first two months of the 2022-23 season, including winger Brad Marchand and defender Charlie McAvoy, and need to figure out what they’re doing with David Pastrnak, who starts the season. last year. of his contract.