**Blues Name Jim Montgomery New Head Coach, Replacing Drew Bannister**

In a surprising mid-season shake-up, the St. Louis Blues have dismissed Drew Bannister and welcomed Jim Montgomery as their new head coach. This change, announced by Blues President and General Manager Doug Armstrong, comes less than a year after Bannister took on the coaching role.

Doug Armstrong admitted the decision to replace Bannister was driven by the sudden availability of Montgomery, who was recently let go by the Boston Bruins. Montgomery's impressive record made him an attractive candidate as the Blues look to navigate a challenging retooling phase. "This was more of an opportunity to get someone of Jim's caliber than anything else," Armstrong explained.

Bannister, who was promoted to full-time head coach in May, faced a tough stint with the team. Despite winning 30 of their final 54 games last season, the Blues failed to make the playoffs. This season has started on a rocky note as well, with the team losing 13 of their first 22 games and struggling offensively and defensively.

Montgomery, 55, brings a wealth of experience to the Blues. His track record includes a .659 points percentage, one of the best in NHL history, and every team he has coached for a full season has made the playoffs. He also received the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year during his tenure with the Bruins.

However, Montgomery's career has seen its ups and downs. He was previously fired by the Dallas Stars in December 2019 for unprofessional conduct. Following this, Montgomery sought rehabilitation and began rebuilding his life. Armstrong talked about Montgomery's journey, emphasizing the coach's growth both professionally and personally.

Montgomery's connection with the Blues isn't new; he was hired as an assistant coach in September 2020. Now, taking the helm as the head coach with a five-year contract, Montgomery aims to steer the Blues back to competitiveness and potentially reopen their Stanley Cup contention window.

This shift highlights the volatile nature of NHL coaching positions, with Montgomery becoming the latest coach to be quickly re-hired after a mid-season dismissal. Armstrong's decisive move underscores his commitment to securing what he believes to be a top-level NHL coach to lead the Blues.