Jim Montgomery Takes A Shot At The NHL In Recent Statement

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Austin Sabourin
January 2, 2024 (11:56)

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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:

«I do think though that there was a gameplan to go after Pastrnak and Marchand,» Montgomery said.

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:

«I do think that we need to protect the stars in our game,» Montgomery pointed out. «When guys are getting cross-checked and stuff after whistles, I think that's something that needs to be important to the league. We've seen it several years with [Connor] McDavid. Last year he had several points, but the years before, in the playoffs, they allowed people to maul him, and you don't want to take away the great skill of a McDavid, a Pastrnak, or a Marchand because that's what this league is about.»

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:

«Yeah, that's a function of it,» Montgomery said. «That all started by someone bodying �Pasta' and no problem with body contact, but when the extra shoves get high and there's no real reason for it, that's what we want to clean out.»

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.

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