Jim Montgomery Could Be Perfect Fit For Bruins' Rival
Jim Montgomery is now looking for a new job, and this Bruins rival could be a perfect landing spot for him.
© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images - Jim Montgomery Could Be Perfect Fit For Bruins' RivalThe Boston Bruins decided to fire Jim Montgomery on Tuesday (Nov. 19). The move was expected. The Bruins have struggled mightily out of the gate, and Montgomery was the perfect scapegoat for Bruins management.
While Montgomery's time in Boston is over, it should take him very little time to get his next job. The 55-year-old put together a magnificent stint as the Bruins' coach. Despite Boston's poor start this season, Montgomery's record as the club's coach was a ridiculous 120-41-23. Unfortunately, the Bruins did not have much playoff success during Montgomery's two-year and some-change stint with the club.
However, given Montgomery's regular-season success in Boston, the 2023 Jack Adams Award winner is easily one of, if not the top available coach for the taking right now. When looking at teams around the NHL who could use Montgomery, the Detroit Red Wings stand out big time.
The expectation this season was that the Red Wings would take a step forward. So far, it has been a rough year for Detroit, as they have a 7-9-2 record and are tied for last in the Atlantic Division with the Montreal Canadiens. In addition, they have lost three straight games and have won only three out of their last 10 contests.
Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde is undoubtedly on the hot seat right now, and he also created chatter last off-season. If the Red Wings cannot turn things around soon and it costs Lalonde his job, Montgomery should immediately be one of the top candidates on Detroit's wish list.
If given the opportunity to coach there, Montgomery could certainly help a struggling Red Wings team take that next step. It will be fascinating to see if they will be the next team Montgomery coaches from here.