Jim Montgomery Takes A Shot At The NHL In Recent Statement
In the aftermath of the Boston Bruins' 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to conclude the year 2023, head coach Jim Montgomery took an unsolicited stand against the apparent lack of protection for key players like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
Montgomery's frustration extended beyond the specific game, addressing what he perceived as a recurring issue with opponents targeting the Bruins' stars.
During a post-game interview with Boston Globe reporter Kevin Paul Dupont, Montgomery voiced his concerns about the league's failure to penalize infractions against Pastrnak and Marchand effectively. He hinted at a deliberate gameplan by opponents to exploit this perceived vulnerability, diverting attention from the victory to the larger issue at hand:
The coach, now 11-2-4 on the season, acknowledged that the problem extended beyond his team, highlighting the abuse faced by other NHL superstars, including three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. Montgomery emphasized the importance of protecting the league's top players, expressing his belief that actions like cross-checks and post-whistle incidents should be addressed promptly:
Notably, Montgomery drew attention to an incident involving Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie and Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot. The punch exchanged and subsequent scrum, according to Montgomery, was a direct consequence of referees failing to safeguard players like Pastrnak from unnecessary aggression:
As the Bruins celebrated their win, Montgomery's words echoed a larger concern about player protection in the NHL, with the coach urging the league to take action and ensure that the stars' exceptional skills are not overshadowed by unchecked physical play.
As seen on bostonhockeynow
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 2 | 1021 ANSWERS Jim Montgomery Takes A Shot At The NHL In Recent Statement Do you think the NHL needs to do a better job at protecting their stars? | ||
| Yes | 779 | 76.3 % |
| No | 242 | 23.7 % |
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