The St. Louis Blues entered the 2024-25 season with expectations of returning to the playoffs. Their summer was punctuated by the controversial double-offer sheet move that landed them Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg.
But when the Blues hit the ice in October, the team landed with a thud. It took all of 20 games for the Blues to make a huge move behind the bench. The club decided to part ways with Drew Bannister and hire Jim Montgomery.
Of course, Montgomery’s hiring didn’t occur in a vacuum. First, Montgomery fell out of favor in Boston before landing in St. Louis. The Blues continued their aggressive approach in landing Montgomery five days after his dismissal from Boston.
Since then, the Blues went on a tear. In Montgomery’s 60 games at the Blues’ helm, the club went 35-18-7, finishing fifth in the Central Division. That record included a 12-game winning streak that landed them in the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference.
The Blues, much like in 2019, were left for dead. But just as some were getting ready to write the obituary on the Blues’ season, the magnificent turnaround not only salvaged the season but also offered a glimmer of hope heading into the future.
The deciding factor was Montgomery’s influence. Everything else remained the same, and the results speak for themselves.
Now, Jim Montgomery didn’t bring a novel system with him. It wasn’t like he discovered a brand-new way of playing the game. The biggest change came with Montgomery’s ability to instill confidence in his players.
This influence became evident as the season progressed. Players were empowered to go out there and play the game. Mistakes, while constantly present, did not derail the team’s confidence as in the past.
Then again, Montgomery didn’t sugarcoat things when the effort wasn’t there. But more often than not, Montgomery got the most out of his players. That’s what great coaches can achieve.
Jim Montgomery should get Jack Adams consideration
Jim Montgomery should certainly get some consideration for the Jack Adams this season. He was behind the bench for enough games to give voters a real sense of what he could do for his team.
Montgomery was able to turn a middling team into a playoff contender. There was no roster turnover, and there weren’t any huge mid-season additions. He made things work with the roster given to him in November.
And, it worked.
If voters get a real sense of how good Jim Montgomery’s performance behind the bench was, they can look at how the Boston Bruins imploded following his departure and the boost the Blues got.
In all likelihood, Jim Montgomery may not win the Jack Adams as his team did not win the Presidents’ Trophy, nor did his team win the Central Division. But then again, great coaches aren’t the ones that always win first place in their divisions.
The best coaches are those who get the job done amid trying circumstances.
That was Jim Montgomery this season. Let’s hope voters come to their senses and pick the Jack Adams winner based on the Blues’ remarkable turnaround, not the final standings.