St. Louis Blues Hire Jim Montgomery as Coach

The St. Louis Blues have fired head coach Drew Bannister and hired Jim Montgomery just five days after Montgomery's dismissal from the Boston Bruins. This decision follows a disappointing start to the season for the Blues, who lost 13 of their first 22 games under Bannister. Montgomery, who has a stellar coaching record of 180-84-33, is expected to bring renewed energy and leadership to the team, which has been struggling in recent seasons. Blues president Doug Armstrong emphasized the urgency of the move to keep the team's championship window open, highlighting previous roster changes made to maintain competitiveness. Montgomery, who previously served as an assistant in St. Louis, signed a five-year contract and aims to reinvigorate the team's performance. The Blues hope that Montgomery's proven success as a coach will help them turn their season around and compete for a playoff spot.