St. Louis – Jim Montgomery, head coach of the St. Louis Blues, secured fourth place in the voting for the Jack Adams Award.
The Jack Adams Award, which began in the 1973-74 season, is given annually to the coach recognized as having the greatest impact on their team’s success.
Montgomery earned 38 points in the voting, including one first-place vote and several second-place votes. The award was won by Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carberry with 464 points, followed by Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets with 249 points, and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens with 66 points.
Montgomery, who turned 56 on June 30, was hired by the Blues on November 25 after Drew Bannister was dismissed. Prior to this, the team had a record of 35-18-7. Under Montgomery’s leadership, the Blues experienced a remarkable turnaround, which included a franchise-record 12-game winning streak and their first playoff appearance.
Before this, Montgomery served as an assistant coach for the Blues for two seasons starting in 2020-21. He signed a five-year contract with St. Louis after being let go by the Boston Bruins on November 19, despite leading the Bruins to an NHL-record 65 wins in the 2022-23 season.
Fan Take: This recognition of Jim Montgomery underscores the profound impact a coach can have on turning a team’s fortunes around in a short time. For hockey fans, it highlights how leadership and strategy are just as crucial as player talent in shaping the future success of a franchise and the excitement of the sport.
