Montgomery, Bruins await word from C Bergeron

BOSTON — Jim Montgomery has a whole lot of work to do to arrange for his first season because the Boston Bruins’ coach.

He knew simply the place to begin: by reaching out to captain Patrice Bergeron to verify the five-time Selke Award winner might be again in a Bruins uniform for a nineteenth season.

“That was my first cellphone name,” Montgomery mentioned on Monday at a information convention to fulfill the native media 10 days after he was employed to exchange Bruce Cassidy, now the coach of the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I haven’t got to enter the locker room very a lot if he comes again. That was the primary takeaway,” Montgomery mentioned. “He is acquired good management of what is going on on, and learn how to lead.”

Three years after they misplaced within the seventh sport of the Stanley Cup Closing and two years after they reached 100 factors in a pandemic-shortened season, the Bruins fired Cassidy following a first-round playoff loss. Since then, prime defenseman Charlie McAvoy and prime scorer Brad Marchand have had surgical procedure that may maintain them out for the primary two months of the season.

However a lot of the eye has been on the 36-year-old Bergeron, who wouldn’t decide to enjoying one other season (whereas saying that, if he did return, it might solely be with the Bruins). He has since informed the staff he’s inclined to return, however he stays unsigned. Final month, he was honored together with his fifth Selke Trophy.

“I nonetheless assume I’ve a whole lot of time in entrance of me, I suppose, to make that call,” Bergeron mentioned after Boston’s elimination. “I wish to be sure that I take on a regular basis that I have to make the best one.”

“We’re nonetheless ready for Patrice’s phrase. Though information is constructive. We’re getting some constructive suggestions,” staff CEO Charlie Jacobs mentioned. “So, fingers crossed that he returns and leads our staff once more subsequent 12 months.”

Montgomery, 53, was fired from his first NHL head job by the Dallas Stars throughout the 2019-20 season with the staff citing unprofessional conduct. He later referred to as that call “applicable” and a “wake-up name” whereas saying he was going to a rehab facility for alcohol abuse.

Montgomery, who spent the previous two seasons as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues, mentioned he has discovered from his errors.

“Everyone has ups and downs in life. And I feel in the event you study from it, develop, you get higher,” he mentioned on Monday. “I feel anyone can obtain good issues in life in the event you’re keen to simply accept change and make change.”

Montgomery mentioned he was excited to be taking up a staff that received 51 video games final 12 months; the Bruins additionally went to Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Closing in 2019 and had the league’s finest report the next season. However that wasn’t ok to avoid wasting Cassidy’s job.

One of many complaints about Cassidy — whose ultimate season ended with a seven-game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes by which the Bruins went winless on the street — was that he was too exhausting on younger gamers. Montgomery, who mentioned he has already reached out to about half of the roster, is named extra of a gamers’ coach — however solely to a restrict.

“I feel it’s important to pay attention. And I desire to pay attention earlier than I converse,” he mentioned. “We’re all the time going to be on this collectively. It is going to be a ‘we’ tradition. However in terms of accountability and ultimate choices, I might be agency there.”

Together with his household sitting within the entrance row of the TD Backyard Legends room, Montgomery mentioned he had already discovered a spot to reside and visited Fenway Park, the place he noticed the Crimson Sox beat the rival New York Yankees.

“So issues have began off properly right here in Boston,” he mentioned. “We’re excited with this rabid fan base on this nice metropolis of Boston. Be a part of the Bruins household.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.