Rival Coach Gives Reaction To Bruins Firing Jim Montgomery

The Bruins parted ways with Jim Montgomery on Tuesday.

Boston’s choice probably didn’t come as a major surprise, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was asked for his reaction to seeing the move and called it “upsetting.”

“I feel for coaches,” Berube said, per The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. “It’s a tough business.”

Berube and Montgomery worked alongside one another for two seasons with the St. Louis Blues, the latter serving as an assistant under the former.

Bruins associate coach Joe Sacco will take over in an interim role. Sacco has been with the organization as an assistant since 2014, and previously spent four seasons as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche (2009-13).

Montgomery is thought to be a prime candidate to return to coaching relatively soon, perhaps even as a member of Berube’s staff in Toronto.