The St. Louis Blues unbelievable season is coming to an end, with three very important games left to play. Each game has playoff implications, and the Blues have to try to avoid a nightmare in the first round.
On June 27, the hockey world will watch which star player or coach will win a prestigious NHL award. The Blues have a rich history of award winners in every single category. When this season is all said and done, one particular award should have a member of the Blues nominated, if not the winner.
That is head coach Jim Montgomery for the Jack Adams award for best head coach in the NHL. Let’s look at when the last head coach won this honorable award, and whether or not Montgomery has a chance.
Ken Hitchcock, 2012
Ken Hitchcock was the last Blues head coach to win the Jack Adams award in 2012. In the 2011-12 season, Hitchcock took over for Davis Payne after 13 games and led the Blues to a 49-22-11 record for 109 points. They finished first in the Central Division and narrowly missed the Presidents’ Trophy by two points (Vancouver, 111).
Hitchcock’s record that season was 43-15-11, which was the highest points percentage of his career at .703. The Blues made it to the Western Conference semi-finals before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup winners, Los Angeles.
Montgomery’s chances in 2024-25?
So, how does Montgomery place in the Jack Adams discussion?
Looking at the landscape of the NHL, the leading candidate for this award would have to be Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel. In his first season behind the bench since he was manning the bench for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011-12, this has been a miraculous run by this season’s Presidents’ Trophy favorites.
But you cannot deny that Montgomery’s bid isn’t a special case. He loses his longtime place in Boston, immediately signs with St. Louis just five days later, and sends this franchise into the upper echelon of the NHL standings.
In his first season behind the bench with the Blues, Montgomery has a record of 34-17-6 and a points percentage of .649. It's not quite at Hitchcock’s level, but it's pretty close to it.
Montgomery stands a little bit too far away from winning the Jack Adams award for best head coach in the NHL. But, his name should be in consideration.