The Boston Bruins are facing a turning point after a disappointing 8-9-3 start to the season culminated in the firing of head coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday.
General manager Don Sweeney explained the decision by citing the team's "inconsistency" through the first 20 games of the season.
In the wake of Montgomery’s dismissal, Bruins players took accountability for their role in his departure.
“This is a reflection of our play, it was avoidable,” Brad Marchand said on Wednesday, per NHL.com. “We feel terrible as a group and individually that we let a really good coach and a really good person down.”
David Pastrnak echoed those sentiments, highlighting the players’ responsibility and underperformance on the ice leading to the firing.
“It’s obviously a tough day,” Pastrnak said. “Because we weren’t getting the job done, we lost a great coach and an amazing human being.”
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy stressed the need for a team-wide reset.
“It’s time to start working. It’s really time to step up and work,” McAvoy said. “The only way to get out of this is to work our way out of it. That’s compete. That’s accountability.”
Montgomery’s tenure began in impressive fashion, leading the Bruins to an all-time NHL-record 65 wins in the 2022–23 season and earning him the Jack Adams Award.
However, early playoff exits in consecutive years and this season’s sluggish start sealed Montgomery's fate even though he had entered talks for an extension with the franchise earlier this season.
Interim head coach Joe Sacco will take the reins for now, returning to an NHL head coaching role for the first time in 11 years. The Bruins will look to rebound under the guidance of Sacco when they host the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday.
