Dispute surfaced involving Jim Montgomery and Brad Marchand
During the faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday, Brad Marchand, our Boston Bruins' captain, led the offensive charge. His display included launching eight shots on goal and securing a crucial overtime goal. The following day, facing the Columbus Blue Jackets, Marchand achieved something remarkable—completing a natural hat trick in just eight minutes during the third period, securing a convincing 3-1 win for our Bruins. Regrettably, in our recent game against the Buffalo Sabres, Marchand secured the lone goal in a 3-1 loss for our Boston team.
While in Toronto, our insider Fluto Shinzawa picked up on Marchand testing out some new sticks during the morning skate. He experimented with a longer stick initially but reverted to his reliable wooden one, explaining, "Too many people in my head." Speculation arose that this might subtly reference our head coach, Jim Montgomery, who has been implementing a new system in Boston, prompting Marchand to make adjustments.
As per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman in his recent "32 Thoughts" column, Marchand briefly addressed some disagreements between himself and Coach Montgomery. Marchand revealed that Montgomery altered our breakouts, shifting from a more adaptable, instinctive style to a structured approach. Marchand made a jest about his preference for the old ways, whereas the coach favors the new method for increased consistency.
«[He] then told us that coach Jim Montgomery made a change to their breakouts. It used to be about reading and reacting to each other.
"With all of the changes, Montgomery demands more structure, and Marchand joked that there are times he wants to do things the old way, but the coach prefers this method until there is more familiarity.»
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Following the recent departures of influential figures such as Zdeno Chara, Torey Krug, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron, Marchand, now the Bruins' new captain, introduces a fresh outlook on team dynamics. He's granting us insight into the inner workings of the dressing room and practice sessions.
Despite occasional resistance from Marchand, it appears that the Bruins have confidence in Coach Montgomery's choices, particularly when they translate into success on the rink. This dynamic underscores the team's reliance on Jim Montgomery to steer the Bruins towards yet another playoff appearance, even amidst discrepancies with the captain.
Marchand's statistics for the season are notable, registering 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games, placing him second on the team, just trailing David Pastrnak's 36 points. Despite potential disagreements with his coach, Marchand is maintaining a consistent point-per-game ratio or better for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
Previously on Bruins Latest
| POLL |
8 DECEMBRE | 361 ANSWERS Dispute surfaced involving Jim Montgomery and Brad Marchand Do you approve of Jim Montgomery's management style with the Bruins? |
| Yes | 236 | 65.4 % |
| No | 125 | 34.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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