Montgomery fired as Stars coach
Dismissal 'due to unprofessional conduct,' GM Nill says
NHL.com @nhldotcom
www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-fire-coach-jim-montgomery/c-312390558Jim Montgomery was fired as coach of the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. He was replaced by assistant Rick Bowness.
"I was made aware of a situation over the weekend involving an employee of the Dallas Stars organization," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "Upon collecting all the information and executing an internal investigation, including speaking with ownership, management and general counsel, it was determined that there was a material act of unprofessionalism contrary to the values and standards held by the Dallas Stars organization.
"It is very clear this cannot be tolerated and therefore we have relieved Jim Montgomery of his duties immediately. It is an honor and a privilege to work in the NHL, and there is a standard that we are all held accountable to as an employee of the Dallas Stars organization. This decision was not, I repeat, was not based on on-ice performance and there is no connection to any past or present players."
Nill also said Montgomery's firing had nothing to do with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announcing the plans and programs aimed at sensitizing team personnel and players to abusive behavior of any kind following the Board of Governors meeting Monday.
"First of all, we approve the NHL in creating the four-point initiative, the plan," Nill said. "I was in contact with the NHL, but this decision was made before that initiative came out. There is no connection between the two."
Bowness will coach the Stars for the remainder of the season beginning against the New Jersey Devils at American Airlines Center on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, MSG+, NHL.TV).
"This is our staff for the rest of the season," Nill said. "Rick is our interim head coach and my plan is he is going to take us where we need to go."
Bowness was named Stars assistant coach June 22, 2018 after five seasons as associate coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 64-year-old is 123-289-3 with 48 ties as an NHL coach for the Winnipeg Jets (1988-89), Boston Bruins (1991-92), Ottawa Senators (1992-96), New York Islanders (1996-98) and Phoenix Coyotes (2003-04).
"It's a huge shock for you and for all of us to come in here this morning and find this news. Usually when a coach takes over a team, they are struggling or they are in the process of selling everyone for next year to finish as bottom of the league as they can, which I have been a part of too many times, but I'm in a fortunate position that [Montgomery] is an excellent coach and has the team playing very, very well," Bowness said.
"We're fortunate in that way, but there is no question that this is a shock to all of us. The cold reality of it is we have a game to play tonight and we are men and we are professionals and this is what we signed up for. As much of a distraction as it is, we are going to have to set it aside and get ourselves mentally and physically prepared to play tonight."
Derek Laxdal, coach of Texas in the American Hockey League since July 3, 2014, was named Stars assistant and was on the ice Tuesday for the morning skate.
Montgomery is the fourth NHL coach to be replaced during the 2019-20 season. Mike Babcock (Toronto Maple Leafs) and John Hynes (New Jersey Devils) were also fired. Bill Peters resigned as coach of the Calgary Flames on Nov. 29, three days after the NHL and Flames announced they were investigating a claim that the 54-year-old used a racial slur in addressing a player earlier in his coaching career.
The Stars (17-11-3) are fourth in the Central Division, one point behind the Jets, and 16-4-2 in 22 games after a 1-7-1 start.
Montgomery was 60-43-10 in 113 games as Stars coach. The 50-year-old guided Dallas to the Western Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, a seven-game loss to the eventual champion St. Louis Blues.
"They are very surprised, I talked to the team today," Nill said. "We have a very good team, we have great leadership and they're going to get over this."
Said Stars defenseman John Klingberg: "I mean, everyone is surprised, obviously. No one knew about this and it came as a shock. But like I said, we're professionals. We have a game here tonight and we're going to have to focus on that and move on."
Montgomery replaced the retiring Ken Hitchcock as Stars coach May 4, 2018 after five seasons at the University of Denver, where he won the NCAA championship in 2017. He also won a national title as a player with the University of Maine in 1993 and played 122 NHL games with the Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Stars.
