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Montreal Canadiens a Favourite to Land Jim Montgomery?

Originally posted on Full Press Hockey
By David Calabretta | Last updated Nov 20, 2024 3:47 PM ET

As usual, the coach suffers when a team is doing badly, and that case is no different than the situation in Boston, as it was announced Tuesday afternoon that GM Don Sweeney had relieved head coach Jim Montgomery from his duties as the coach of the Boston Bruins. Holding a record of 120-41-23, he won’t be unemployed for much longer. Does a homecoming in Montreal make sense?

Look, Martin St.Louis is not going anywhere, and General Manager Kent Hughes confirmed it. However, as previously mentioned by Full Press Hockey, there is an opening behind the bench in Montreal after the unexpected departure of power play coach Alex Burrows. In fact, experience is lacking in the “Belle Province,” and Jim Montgomery can help mentor rookie head coach St. Louis as an Associate coach in Montreal.

Don’t be surprised if this happens. @DcalabrettaTFP and I have spoken about this. Perfect fit. https://t.co/1IffJAbsmi
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) November 19, 2024

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First, Boston has to give permission for teams to inquire about Montgomery, as the former B’s coach is still under contract with them. Secondly, whether Montgomery wants to step aside from hockey for a while has to be known. If he wants to resume behind the bench, there will be no doubt that Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes will be poking interest in the Montrealer. But does he wanna be an assistant coach?

Montgomery is the first, but definitely not the last, head coach to be fired this season, with Nashville Predators Andrew Brunette and Detroit Red Wings Derek Lalonde next in line for the hot seat. Also, keep an eye on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mike Sullivan. When is the tipping point coming for them? If Montgomery wants to wait a little longer, he can become a candidate to land a head coaching job in one of these markets.

While Montreal and many other teams will show interest, ultimately, the decision will lie with Jim Montgomery and his family. But who doesn’t love a homecoming?

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This article first appeared on Full Press Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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