The Bruins’ decision to fire head coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday was the first in-season head coach change in the NHL and some insiders are now questioning whether GM Don Sweeney could be next in line to leave Boston.
Montgomery’s dismissal followed Boston’s disappointing 8-9-3 start to the season, marked by underwhelming performances from a roster revamped in the offseason.
Despite losing veterans Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement at the end of last season, Montgomery enjoyed the additions of forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov this past off-season.
Despite that, the Bruins clearly underperformed and Boston's brass decided to move on from Montgomery. The head coach led the team to a 120-41-23 record over two seasons and 20 games at the helm.
“First of all, I don’t get why Montgomery was the fall guy here,” an anonymous NHL executive told RG.org. “He’s done a great job there. But it’s always the coach who pays, right?”
The Bruins replaced Montgomery with longtime assistant Joe Sacco, a move that raised eyebrows among league insiders.
“Why go with your assistant? He’s not a new voice, and it’s a lateral move at best,” the executive said.
For Sweeney, the pressure is mounting. His aggressive offseason signings, including high-profile acquisitions like Lindholm and Zadorov, have failed to lift the team to expectations.
With the Bruins stuck near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, people within the NHL are questioning the GM’s vision and strategy.
“If you go on a spending spree and claim you’re all in for the Stanley Cup, then why wouldn’t you go all in with your next coaching hire and bring in a proven Cup winner?” an NHL scout told RG.
Those same sources told RG that Sweeney’s decision to promote Sacco may have been influenced by ownership, signaling a wait-and-see approach before potentially overhauling the front office.
“Makes you wonder if the Sacco hire came from above,” the scout said. “If Sacco can’t turn it around, Sweeney’s next in line to be fired.
"Then the new GM can come in and hire his own coach.”
The Bruins are 18th in the league standings with a 9-9-3 record following their win over the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday as Sacco debuted in victory.
