Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)
Former player and NHL head coach for the Blues, Stars, and Bruins.
Jim Montgomery, born June 30, 1969, is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player who currently serves as head coach of the St. Louis Blues in the NHL. He went undrafted and played six NHL seasons split between the Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars.
Montgomery began his playing career with the Cégep de Saint-Laurent Patriotes in 1987–88, then moved to the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canada Hockey League the following season. He joined the University of Maine in 1989, playing four years and earning All-Star honors three years in a row (1991, 1992, 1993). As captain, he led Maine to a 42–1–2 record and the 1993 national championship, scoring three third-period goals in a 5–4 comeback win over Lake Superior State to earn tournament Most Outstanding Player. He finished as Maine’s all-time leading scorer with 301 points (103 goals, 198 assists), and his number 19 was retired alongside Scott Pellerin’s number 8 and Paul Kariya’s number 9.
After college, Montgomery signed with the St. Louis Blues and played 67 games in 1993–94, scoring 20 points—both NHL career highs. He was then traded to Montreal for Guy Carbonneau, but after just five games in the 1994–95 season, the Canadiens released him. He later signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, playing eight regular-season and seven playoff games that year. Montgomery is credited with coining the “Legion of Doom” nickname for the line of John LeClair, Eric Lindros, and Mikael Renberg. In 1995–96, he played only five NHL games but had a career year with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, recording 105 points in 78 games and earning a spot on the AHL Second All-Star Team.
Montgomery spent the 1996–97 season in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga, then played two full seasons with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms. During 1999–2000, he split time between the Phantoms and the IHL’s Manitoba Moose. He signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2000, playing 28 games for the Sharks and the rest of the season with the IHL’s Kentucky Thoroughblades. The following year, he joined the Dallas Stars organization, appearing in nine games over two seasons while mostly playing for the AHL’s Utah Grizzlies. He then played one season with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the Russian Superleague and later with the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League before retiring in 2005.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1969-06-30
- Birth Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 170
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- St. Louis Blues · Montreal Canadiens · Philadelphia Flyers · San Jose Sharks · Dallas Stars
- League Coach
- NHL
- Team Coach
- St. Louis Blues
- Coached For
- Dallas Stars / Boston Bruins
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Montgomery played college hockey at the University of Maine, where he captained the team to a 42–1–2 record and the 1993 national championship, scoring three third-period goals in the title game. He finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with 301 points, and his number 19 was retired. Undrafted, he signed with the St. Louis Blues and posted NHL career highs of 67 games and 20 points in 1993–94. He was traded to Montreal for Guy Carbonneau, but was released after five games. He later played for Philadelphia, San Jose, and Dallas, spending significant time in the minors and in Europe. Montgomery is credited with nicknaming the 'Legion of Doom' line of John LeClair, Eric Lindros, and Mikael Renberg.
As a coach, Montgomery led the Dubuque Fighting Saints to two USHL championships (2011, 2013) and the University of Denver to the 2017 NCAA national championship, earning the Spencer Penrose Award. He was named head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2018 and led them to their first playoff appearance in three years. He was fired in December 2019 for 'unprofessional conduct' later linked to alcohol abuse; Montgomery subsequently entered rehab and acknowledged the firing was appropriate. He served as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues before becoming head coach of the Boston Bruins in 2022, where he set NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) in a season and won the Jack Adams Award. He was fired by the Bruins in November 2024 after an 8–9–3 start and returned to the Blues as head coach five days later.
Reader's Guide
Jim Montgomery's career is marked by both extraordinary achievement and personal controversy. As a player, his college career at Maine was legendary—he remains one of three players to have his number retired there, alongside Hobey Baker winners Scott Pellerin and Paul Kariya. His NHL playing career, however, was modest, with only 122 games over six seasons. His coaching career has been far more impactful: he won NCAA and USHL championships, and in 2022–23 he led the Boston Bruins to the most successful regular season in NHL history, breaking the records for wins (65) and points (135). That season earned him the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. Yet his tenure with the Dallas Stars ended abruptly due to a 'material act of unprofessionalism' that Montgomery later attributed to alcohol abuse, for which he sought treatment. His firing from the Bruins after a slow start in 2024 and his immediate return to the Blues highlight the volatility of coaching careers. Montgomery's legacy is thus a blend of historic coaching success, a celebrated college playing career, and a public struggle with personal issues that he has acknowledged openly.
Did You Know?
- Montgomery scored three third-period goals to lead Maine to a 5–4 comeback win in the 1993 NCAA championship game.
- He is credited with nicknaming the Philadelphia Flyers' 'Legion of Doom' line.
- Montgomery set the NHL single-season record for wins (65) and points (135) as head coach of the Boston Bruins in 2022–23.
- He was fired by the Dallas Stars in 2019 for 'unprofessional conduct' and later entered rehab for alcohol abuse.
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