Management Jim Montgomery

[smithformeragent]

Jim Montgomery rips Bruins, says team isn't ready for playoffs yet

Jim Montgomery gave perhaps the most candid press conference of his Bruins tenure Monday after a lackluster start to practice.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery isn't happy with his team right now.

Not at all.

The Bruins gave a lackluster performance in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers last Thursday and then had plenty of chances to beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday before losing 3-2. Monday's practice didn't get off to the best start, either, prompting Montgomery to pause the session for sprints, along with a strong verbal message.

 

[UncleRico]

I feel as though this year has been so polarizing because there’s some completely dominant wins and at the same time some gut wrenching losses where we give up goals late in the 3rd to either lose or go to OT and lose.

Montgomery definitely shoulders some of the blame, but it’s tough when the team is winning for the first 56 minutes and then just get the yips. A lot of it’s on the players

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

He had a glittering opportunity to go deep last year and totally mismanaged the playoffs.

This team much weaker (aside from goaltending). Doesn’t matter what he does now, we don’t have enough on-ice talent.

 

[Patdud]

Losing the team already eh Jimbo?

 

[Aussie Bruin]

What's the pass/fail on Monty for the playoffs? I don't think it's as simple as saying win a round or two or whatever. I think it more comes down to the opponent, the way the team plays, and how he handles things and tactics as the games unfold. This roster is decent but no more, they could be one and done and simply beaten by a better team, in which case you'd just have to cop it on the chin. Equally with good application and some luck they could go further.

So for the coach I'm more interested in the how and the why, the planning and the execution, than the results themselves.

 

[UncleRico]

Losing the team already eh Jimbo?

Indictment on the coach or the players? If he has lost the team that’s 2 coaches in 3 seasons to “lose the team”

 

[Boston Bruno]

Should have done the bag skate over the first scent of malaise - not trying to break the habit after they have established it as a norm.

This is not good.

 

[Gee Wally]

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

What's the pass/fail on Monty for the playoffs? I don't think it's as simple as saying win a round or two or whatever. I think it more comes down to the opponent, the way the team plays, and how he handles things and tactics as the games unfold. This roster is decent but no more, they could be one and done and simply beaten by a better team, in which case you'd just have to cop it on the chin. Equally with good application and some luck they could go further.

So for the coach I'm more interested in the how and the why, the planning and the execution, than the results themselves.

It’s tough to say.

I don’t think this team is built well. I don’t believe Zacha is a 1C, and Coyle is a 2C (this is debatable, but he has a lot of goals this year so I don’t feel like arguing) but I feel as though his playmaking impact is not where it needs to be in order for his wings to flourish offensively, especially for a deep playoff run.

Our bottom six is also missing truculence and has a Milan Lucic sized hole in it.

Back end is good enough, but Gryz is a gap and Lindholm is not having a good year.

Goaltending is outstanding, not an issue.

That being said, I don’t know that I could blame Monty if we have a 1st round exit, unless he completely screws with lines and starts a hurt goalie again.

 

[PB37]

I think the team's support players have been getting the message and playing hard. IMO, it's the stars that need to pick it up more. Lindholm, McAvoy, Pasta, Marchand all need to be better than they have been in the past two games.

 

[BMC]

Should have done the bag skate over the first scent of malaise - not trying to break the habit after they have established it as a norm.

This is not good.

Yup he's a day late and a dollar short. The time to get tough was 40 games ago when it became obvious the team had developed bad habits.

I get he's a "players' coach" & the team needed that after Butch. However he's let them get away with so much stuff it is going to be very hard to pull them back in now.

 

[ODAAT]

Losing the team already eh Jimbo?

oh good lord, ludicrous

He has a team that isn`t as good as it`s record, nor as bad as some of the outings they recently had, they came out and practiced, from what it sounds like, horribly and he reacted

 

[Dr Hook]

oh good lord, ludicrous

He has a team that isn`t as good as it`s record, nor as bad as some of the outings they recently had, they came out and practiced, from what it sounds like, horribly and he reacted

Not taking a pop at you Andrew, but I don't understand the "isn't as good as it's record" this late in a season. I can see it early in a season, but the Bruins have a winning record against playoff bound teams; where they have generally struggled has been playing down to lesser teams. They are as good as their record, because that is the record over 70+ games. You don't get where they are with such a large sample size based on flukes, and fortuitous circumstances. It all pretty much evens out by now.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

Yup he's a day late and a dollar short. The time to get tough was 40 games ago when it became obvious the team had developed bad habits.

I get he's a "players' coach" & the team needed that after Butch. However he's let them get away with so much stuff it is going to be very hard to pull them back in now.

I wonder if the team really needed a players coach after Butch. Baby Jakey’s happy but the coach went on to win a SC while we’re sipping bitter brew from the President’s trophy.

 

[bruins4thecup65]

If Monty was smart he would worry about having everyone healthy and energized, focused and ready for the playoffs. Coming in as an eighth seed means nothing. Florida did it, St. Louis did it and LA Kings did it and went on to win the cup.

The most important thing in the playoffs is being energized, healthy and hungry with all players buying in with everything they got every shift.

No team is just going to hand you Lord Stanley.

 

[JAD]

A few things to consider...
and these first few may just be subconscious ...
After last year much of the returning team realizes that the regular season doesn't mean much more than qualifying for the playoffs and padding one personal stats towards a continued job and future payday. ... it's the playoffs that matter.
The current team also realizes that there isn't anyone in the current lineup that will stand up and have everyone's back when an opponent is taking liberties with a teammate.
The team just wants to finish the season healthy and start the playoffs , when games really matter.

From a coaching perspective I'm still trying to figure out Montgomery's coaching strategy other than trying to maintain a fast pace and quick transition. I almost feel like the forwards are more concerned with a quick transition then they are towards being responsible defensively in their own end. It's almost as if the team needs a refresher course in what each individuals responsible is defensively to the teams success. I've said this before - this team has the capability and the personnel to shut the opponent down. They just are not executing and being sloppy ... which takes me back to me first few points ... they know what they need to do they just aren't doing it.
Really they should finish out the season with a renewed commitment to being defensively responsible. The offense will take care of it self.

 

[ON3M4N]

I know one thing, a lot of guys seem to have career years under Monty....

Coyle - 1pt shy of his career high in points, first time in his career he's broken 20 goals

DeBrusk - Put up a career high 50pts last year in only 64 games and on pace for his 2nd best producing year this season

Frederic - Set a career high under Monty last season and has already surpassed that this season

Pastrnak - Broke the 100pt mark for the first time last season and had a career high in goals and assist. This season he's on pace to break the 100pt mark again

Zacha - Career high in goals, assist & points last season and playing a nearly the same pace this season.

Then you get guys that weren't highly sought after like Heinen, JVR, Boqvist, etc having solid seasons.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Should have done the bag skate over the first scent of malaise - not trying to break the habit after they have established it as a norm.

This is not good.

These players know what's at stake. They had a record breaking season last year in the regular season and they choked it during Bergeron's last run. The idea that they should need anyone to movitate them is ridiculous to me. If Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy aren't getting up for games then that's on them. The team let go of a Cup winning coach because he made Jake Debrusk feel bad. If Jake is now not putting forth the effort, he can't blame mean Cassidy any more.

I blame the players most, then Sweeney if he's bringing in players who don't show enough mental toughness and for caving when they complain about a coach. Coaching is an issue but it's last of the 3.

 

[EverettMike]

These players know what's at stake. They had a record breaking season last year in the regular season and they choked it during Bergeron's last run. The idea that they should need anyone to movitate them is ridiculous to me. If Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy aren't getting up for games then that's on them. The team let go of a Cup winning coach because he made Jake Debrusk feel bad. If Jake is now not putting forth the effort, he can't blame mean Cassidy any more.

I blame the players most, then Sweeney if he's bringing in players who don't show enough mental toughness and for caving when they complain about a coach. Coaching is an issue but it's last of the 3.

Big picture I'm really not sure how Montgomery could possibly be having a better season in terms of getting everything possible out of this team. They've been over their skis all year.

 

[PB37]

Yup he's a day late and a dollar short. The time to get tough was 40 games ago when it became obvious the team had developed bad habits.

I get he's a "players' coach" & the team needed that after Butch. However he's let them get away with so much stuff it is going to be very hard to pull them back in now.

I don't agree with this at all. Coach has been preaching the same message all year.

That message is more important right now because teams around them are ramping up intensity to jockey for playoff position and the Bruins best players haven't been upping theirs the past two games. The support players are getting it done like Zacha, DeBrusk, Geekie, Heinen, and recently Brazeau. But Marchand is in a slump either due to injury, age, or maybe both. Lindholm looked good coming back from his injury but has been noticeably below his normal playing ability the past couple of games. I'd put McAvoy in that same category of playing below his capability of late. Stars need to shine if the Bruins are going to produce wins against playoff teams now and in April/May.

 

[JCRO]

Yup he's a day late and a dollar short. The time to get tough was 40 games ago when it became obvious the team had developed bad habits.

I get he's a "players' coach" & the team needed that after Butch. However he's let them get away with so much stuff it is going to be very hard to pull them back in now.

Yeah you and Boston Bruno hit it on the head.

Great that he bagged skated them. Very late though. IMO should've been done shortly after the All Star break as IMO thats when these bad habits started.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Yeah you and Boston Bruno hit it on the head.

Great that he bagged skated them. Very late though. IMO should've been done shortly after the All Star break as IMO thats when these bad habits started.

I mean NHL players really aren’t bag skated often at all. Extremely rare for it to happen.

 

[ODAAT]

Not taking a pop at you Andrew, but I don't understand the "isn't as good as it's record" this late in a season. I can see it early in a season, but the Bruins have a winning record against playoff bound teams; where they have generally struggled has been playing down to lesser teams. They are as good as their record, because that is the record over 70+ games. You don't get where they are with such a large sample size based on flukes, and fortuitous circumstances. It all pretty much evens out by now.

I think they are a good team but for me, I look at this team essentially being 42-31 team, still played much better than I anticipated and lot`s to be excited about with the start of young careers in Beecher, Lohrei, Poitras, money to spend this summer but as I mentioned, the proof will be in the puddin, love to be wrong, I think, in a 7 gamer vs say the Panthers, this team gets overwhelmed physically and gets waxed and worn down

Still so many warts, lack of real killer instinct, inability to hold leads in tight games, these are essential needs come playoff time, future behavior often dictated by past behavior

 

[The don godfather]

No Legendary Bergy and Dk no problem ! Monty challenging for another president trophy. Give this man another Adams.

 

[goldenblack]

I get that the Canucks coach is gonna get the Jack Adams. Fine. I disagree, but fine.

But can we TALK about our coach?

To those of you who want him fired, honestly, I'd block every one of you if I could.

This guy is coaching a master class right now. With what he was handed for this season, one of the biggest rabbit out of a hat sports seasons I've seen. Let's end the series Monty. You're a gem.