Blues GM Comments on Jim Montgomery Hiring May Not Be Good Sign For Ex-Oilers Coach Jay Woodcroft

The St. Louis Blues officially hired coach former Bruins coach Jim Montgomery less than a week after he was fired, and there may not be a good signs for former Oiler coach Jay Woodcroft.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that the reason he made the coaching change was because a coach of Montgomery's calibre was available, and worth the change.

Jim Montgomery had an incredible record of 120-41-23, and the Bruins aren't even overly bad this year, they're just demanding more than mediocrity and Montgomery was deemed to be the needed change.

It's wild to hear that a General Manager wasn't even considering a coaching change until a coach that he thought was better became available - and that doesn't bode well for an unemployed coach like Jay Woodcroft.

Montgomery is clearly the more established coach compared to Woodcroft, given his far superior record wins record and Jack Adams win in 2022-23, but it's a comment that must sting Woodcroft.

Armstrong believes that hiring Montgomery would truly make a difference to the Blues this season, and that's something no one is saying about the Oilers former coach.

Woodcroft had a decent record himself with his parts of three seasons with the Oilers, coaching the team to a great total record of 79-41-13.

He was done in by horrific goaltending early in the Oilers season last year from Jack Campbell, clearly something beyond his control.

NHL analysts often say that coaches are the best on their second team in their career, while they're still fresh but with the experience of their first season. On his next team, Woodcroft will probably be a great coach.

Woodcroft interviewed for positions as a head coach in the offseason, including for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but ultimately didn't even end up with an assistant role.

We'll have to see if he gets an opportunity this year or next, or if perhaps other teams just don't think too highly of him.

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