This week, some big news rocked the NHL landscape as Edmonton made a change at the head coaching position. Kris Knoblaugh is out, and now shockwaves have hit each and every team in a similar situation.
The St. Louis Blues are not exactly in that situation, yet. Head coach Jim Montgomery's job is safe, and in fact, it might be one of the safer seats in all of hockey right now. But, for a while, Knoblaugh was as well.
Did this recent big-time firing put any kind of a hook on Montgomery, as Steen could pull him off the stage at any point in the next two seasons? Let's talk about it.
Entering “third” season
Looking at comparison sake, Knoblaugh got three years in Edmonton. Back-to-back Western Conference championships, but both losses in the Stanley Cup Finals. And, add in this most recent first-round exit via the Anaheim Ducks, it is clear why they made a change.
Looking at Montgomery, he is about to enter his second season, but his first campaign in 2024-25 was 60 games long. For all intents and purposes, this really should be his third season. The Blues are not projected to be playoff contenders again, but that was also the case when Montgomery was hired.
A lot more could be riding on this season than previously thought.
Missing playoffs again puts pressure on 2027-28
Another missed playoff appearance might not be the end of his tenure, but it puts a lot of pressure on the 2027-28 season. This offseason is really going to tell the entire script for 2026-27, with the trio of first-round selections and free agency.
Montgomery has to put this team in a great position at the end of this upcoming year, so that way they are labeled as playoff contenders in 2027-28. If not, and they have to surmount the odds once again, he will then be standing on very thin ice.
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