[News] Stars fire Head Coach Jim Montgomery for unprofessional conduct

[sureLoss]

Another one bites the dust

https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/jim-m...rs/c-312388186

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that Jim Montgomery has been dismissed as the team's Head Coach. Effective immediately, Rick Bowness, who has served as Assistant Coach since June 22, 2018, will assume the role of Interim Head Coach for the team.

Additionally, Derek Laxdal, who was serving as the Head Coach of the Texas Stars, will be added to Bowness' staff as Assistant Coach. Neil Graham has been named Head Coach of the Texas Stars. He was serving as Texas' Assistant Coach.



Statement from Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill:
"The Dallas Stars expect all of our employees to act with integrity and exhibit professional behavior while working for and representing our organization. This decision was made due to unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League."

News Update

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
I’m told the NHL was aware of the situation with Jim Montgomery even before Gary Bettman met the media here last night to announce the league’s 4-point plan, but that Montgomery’s dismissal does not fall under the auspices of that plan. Not related to it apparently.

News Update

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Another source familiar with the situation says the Dallas Stars really had no choice and also says this is non abuse related.

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Last night, at the Board of Governors meeting, we asked if there were any investigations underway for abuse/racial comments that we were not aware of. The answer was no. Whatever happened with Jim Montgomery in Dallas, it does not fall under that umbrella.

News Update

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Source says Montgomery’s “unprofessional conduct” took place while employed by the Stars. Montgomery was hired by Dallas in May, 2018.

News Update

Sean Shapiro @seanshapiro
Nill said he was made aware this weekend of a "material act of unprofessionalism." There is no connection to any past or present players per Nill

Sean Shapiro @seanshapiro
Jim Nill said will not discuss the incident out of respect for those involved. Did say it had nothing to do with the recent points from the NHL BOG meeting. Also said no other employees involved. There was no criminal investigation involved

[MrMike]

Well that is certainly a surprise, wonder what these allegations are?

Wow how many coaches will get let go this year?

[SuperMatt18]

Interesting and I wonder what the story is here.

[sureLoss]

Rick Ralph @RickRalphTSN
Dallas is the second hottest team since Nov. 1 going 12-3-2, same as the #NHLJets H/T @GibShow Only Washington has been hotter at 13-2-1.

[tvp2003]

Given the BOG meetings and Bettman's statements yesterday, I'm guessing the timing isn't coincidental...

[kukkudo]

Damn and the Stars have been killing it lately

[Textcritic]

Wow. Montgomery was Gaudreau's coach at Dubuque the year he was drafted by Calgary.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Rick Ralph @RickRalphTSN
Dallas is the second hottest team since Nov. 1 going 12-3-2, same as the #NHLJets H/T @GibShow Only Washington has been hotter at 13-2-1.

Maybe they will have a reverse coaching change effect.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe they will have a reverse coaching change effect.

Instead of a coaching bump, a coaching divot.

[Strange Brew]

Wow. Assume this is something he did while coaching Dallas.

Montgomery was head coach at DU for 5 years too.

[locsofblu]

Weird. He must of killed a fly while raising his voice at his players during practice lol.

[flamesfan1297]

Wow this came out of nowhere, wonder who else will get in trouble. As someone else said, definitely not a coincidence with the timing

[foofighter15]

Gotta think due to recent events things about him were brought forward by some current or recent players. I like how Dallas is handling it without giving every detail about it to the media. Just getting ahead of the story, handling it and moving on. Good play on their part.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Yikes this is surprising, interested to see what exactly happened. Coaches are now on full alert now, no more hiding anything anymore. Wonder how many more or to come?

[Erick Estrada]

This story will be interesting. I assume something must have happened within the past year as the head coach given the explanation.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

Weird. He must of killed a fly while raising his voice at his players during practice lol.

I think we can safely assume that if someone is dismissed it is for verifiable and substantial reasons.

Let's please not diminish this in the process of trying to clean up the culture around the game.

[devo22]

wowza, that came out of nowhere.

[Wolfman]

Good, shift the distractions to another team.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I think we can safely assume that if someone is dismissed it is for verifiable and substantial reasons.

Let's please not diminish this in the process of trying to clean up the culture around the game.

Out of thanks, but this, 100%. Hopefully a bad situation is being rectified here. And hopefully a real message is being sent to Montgomery that he needs to make significant changes.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This story will be interesting. I assume something must have happened within the past year as the head coach given the explanation.

The timing of this is very interesting. With Gary Bettman's announcement yesterday it would make some sense that Dallas had attempted to handle some incidents internally—the same as how Carolina handled Bill Peters under Ron Francis, but with the new League policy had to take public action.