The St. Louis Blues are in a great spot to make some serious noise during the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season. After narrowly defeating the Winnipeg Jets in seven games of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the expectation is that they are going to make it there once again.
One of the ways they can do that rests on the shoulders of one individual in this organizaition. He wears a suit instead of a jersey and never touches the ice. Head Coach Jim Montgomery is the single most important figure for next season's success, and he must be able to carry this momentum over from this season to next.
How can he do it?
No sophomore slump in 2025-26
After coming over from being axed by the Boston Bruins, Montgomery was one of the sole reasons why you can label last season as a success. He rallied the troops when all seemed lost and put together this winning hockey team on the fly. He made the right moves when needed, used his experience and pedigree as a Jack Adams award winner to right this ship when it mattered most.
The highlight of last season was the franchise record-setting 12 straight wins. The players did all of the work, obviously, but in large part to the leadership and guidance of Montgomery and this fantastic coaching staff.
In order to keep the momentum going, Montgomery cannot afford to have a sophomore slump in his second "full" year at the helm. He must use this offseason, his first with the organization, to make sure that this squad is methodically perfect on opening night, which falls on October 9 against the Minnesota Wild.
Montgomery is the right coach for this team, and the players have taken a liking to having a respectable and established leader behind the bench. This could be a match made in heaven, and the 2025-26 season can be a perfect representation of that. Montgomery has to be able to carry the momentum of last season over, or else this season may be doomed.