Did the Boston Bruins Make the Right Move Firing Jim Montgomery?

The Boston Bruins are currently in an intriguing position in the NHL standings. Although they sit third in the Atlantic Division, the competition is fierce, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators breathing down their necks. Both teams have games in hand, and their potential to leapfrog the Bruins makes the team’s hold on its spot tenuous. A recent six-game win streak showcased flashes of brilliance, but the streak came to an end against the Edmonton Oilers. While the Bruins have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, only a couple of those victories came against playoff-caliber opponents.

Since firing head coach Jim Montgomery on November 19, the Bruins have shown modest progress. At the time of his dismissal, Boston was fourth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Under interim coach Joe Sacco, they’ve climbed to third and sixth, respectively. While these improvements might seem encouraging, they also raise an important question: was the decision to let Montgomery go a knee-jerk reaction by General Manager Don Sweeney? The statistical gains under Sacco have been notable, but not necessarily transformative enough to wholly justify such a major change.

Under Sacco, the Bruins have achieved a respectable 10-4-1 record. However, their offensive struggles remain evident. Boston ranks 28th in the NHL for goals scored per game this season, managing just 2.87 goals per game since Sacco took over—a slight uptick, but still underwhelming. Defensively, they have improved, allowing 2.60 goals per game under Sacco, which places them in the league’s upper half during this stretch. Even so, their power play remains abysmal, sitting near the bottom of the league with a season-long success rate of just 13.2 percent. Under Sacco, it’s improved marginally to 15.9 percent but still ranks 23rd.

The penalty kill has shown more promise, improving to 81.6 percent under Sacco compared to the season average of 77.6 percent. But despite these statistical gains, Boston’s special teams remain inconsistent and far from elite. The Bruins have benefitted from a relatively forgiving schedule during Sacco’s tenure, but their performance has yet to suggest they’ve fully addressed their lingering issues.

The decision to fire Montgomery also came under scrutiny because of the timing. Just two seasons ago, Montgomery led the Bruins to a record-breaking year, earning him the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. Even this past season, he guided the team to the second round of the playoffs. The St. Louis Blues quickly snapped him up after his dismissal, showing that his reputation as a skilled coach remains intact. While Montgomery’s start in St. Louis has been less than stellar, the Bruins’ decision to part ways with him still feels somewhat questionable, given his prior success in Boston.

Montgomery’s impressive 120-41-23 record with the Bruins makes his firing all the more puzzling. It’s not often a coach with such accolades is let go so early in the season. Sacco’s tenure has shown some promise, but his impact hasn’t been groundbreaking. To fully validate this coaching change, the Bruins will need to string together an exceptional run of form and elevate their standing in key statistical areas.

Ultimately, the Bruins’ decision seems like a gamble that hasn’t yet paid off convincingly. While Sacco’s results show potential, the lingering “what ifs” about Montgomery’s tenure remain a fair topic of debate. Only time—and improved consistency across the board—will determine whether Boston’s bold move was the right one.