Hot Gist: Former Blues Coach Speaks Out As He Accuses Bruins’ EX-Coach Jim Montgomery and GM Doug Armstrong of Unjust Firing Conspiracy…..see details

The firing of NHL coaches has been on the rise in recent years, but Sunday morning’s spectacle was unlike anything we’d seen before. The St. Louis Blues fired Drew Bannister, but it wasn’t because of his performance. Instead, general manager Doug Armstrong said that the team was able to get Jim Montgomery, who had been let go by the Boston Bruins five days before, because they wanted the best player available.

The Blues players felt the same way. It was difficult to say goodbye to Bannister. In an interview with Daily Faceoff, Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel expressed his sympathy for Banny and his family. “He was an excellent mentor to me when I first entered the professional league.”

Prior to their 2023–24 season together with the Blues, Bannister coached Kessel with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. Although it’s been an adjustment, Kessel can relate to the enthusiasm for Montgomery’s return as this is his first real encounter with a coach getting fired that he has had at the professional level.

With the exception of Radek Faksa, who has played for Dallas and St. Louis, “everyone likes him a lot and we’re all really excited,” Kessel stated.

Although this is a foreign sensation for someone like Kessel, Blues captain Brayden Schenn is no stranger to it. However, the manner of Bannister’s dismissal was unique, even to him. If a team isn’t doing well and clicking, the coach is likely to be sacked. Although that may have been a contributing factor for the Blues’ 9-12-1 start to the season, it wasn’t the primary rationale for making the switch.

“This one does feel different for sure,” Schenn remarked cautiously. Everyone is aware that we need to step up our game, and we intend to continue to hold ourselves to that standard. We will not sit on our hands and allow ourselves to be absolved simply because they got their man.

No matter who is coaching the Blues, the players must maintain a higher level of performance because the team is unhappy with its present standing and many of its members have won while playing for this company. “We have a responsibility to generate energy alongside him,” Schenn stated.

Montgomery has been a successful head coach in the National Hockey League for 298 games, with a record of 180-84-33 over regular seasons. Doug Armstrong’s faith in his ability to lead the team to glory is evident in the five-year contract he signed with him, even though he has yet to win a Stanley Cup.

According to Schenn, Montgomery’s coaching style is a mix of discipline and detail, but he also allows his players to play hockey. Everything within the system should be inventive; he wants aggressive play from his hard-working teammates. That was his message: he doesn’t want everyone to be robotic and play the same game.

When pressed to clarify Montgomery’s message, Schenn mentioned that the coach will hold the player responsible for actions he disapproves of, but also emphasized the importance of playing hockey and making plays.

After working with Montgomery as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2022, players like Schenn knew to expect an active Montgomery at Monday’s morning skate at Madison Square Garden.

“He’s a lively and entertaining boss who demands respect from his employees—the kind of boss you’d want to put your best effort into impressing.” Tonight, at the most renowned arena in the world, we will witness the Blues’ high-energy play vs a struggling New York Rangers squad.