'This One's Personal For Me': Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Finds Bruins' Firing Of Jim Montgomery 'Upsetting'

The Boston Bruins became the first NHL team this season to dismiss their head coach, parting ways with Jim Montgomery.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube reflected on the news during his team's morning availability ahead of their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Related: 'How To Push Your Team Through': Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery Revealed That He Got Advice From Former Maple Leafs Head Coach Mike Babcock During Series Against Toronto

"It's upsetting, and we brought Monty into St. Louis to work with us for a couple of years, and he was fantastic," Berube shared. "You know, I feel for coaches, and it's a tough business. It is. This one's more personal for me."

Montgomery’s coaching journey has been a mix of triumphs and challenges. He was head coach of the Dallas Stars when he was let go on Dec. 10, 2019, for unprofessional conduct. Later, Montgomery openly addressed his battle with alcohol abuse and shared his ongoing path to sobriety.

Following his departure from Dallas, Montgomery joined Berube’s staff with the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2022, helping rebuild his career.

"He's a very intelligent coach on both sides of the puck," Berube said. "When he came to St. Louis, I found Monty to be very, very responsible on the defensive side of things. He actually ran our PK that year and was very good. Very good on that side of things."

The Bruins made the decision to relieve Montgomery of his duties after a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, dropping the team to an 8-9-3 record. Despite this season's struggles, Montgomery leaves Boston with a remarkable 120-41-23 record, a .715 points percentage.

Montgomery's tenure in Boston included a historic first season in 2022-23. He led the Bruins to a record-breaking campaign with a 65-12-5 record, earning 135 points and an .823 points percentage—both NHL bests. His efforts earned him the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach. However, the Bruins’ early playoff exit, losing to the Florida Panthers in the first round, shadowed an otherwise extraordinary season.

This news highlights the turbulent nature of NHL coaching, where even decorated accomplishments can be overshadowed by the demands of short-term success. It likely won't be long before the coach is back behind an NHL bench.