Nov 30, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery looks on from the beach during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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Drew Bannister or Jim Montgomery: Who’s Driving the St. Louis Blues Season Turnaround?

Comparing the impact of Drew Bannister and Jim Montgomery's influence on the Blues' resurgence this NHL season.

When Jim Montgomery stepped in as head coach of the St. Louis Blues on November 25, the team was struggling. Drew Bannister’s time as coach had left them with a 9-12-1 record and a bleak future. However, Montgomery, a 2023 Jack Adams Award winner, has quickly shifted the team’s fortunes, sparking improvements across the board.

“The Blues are going to be ready to rock tonight,” Montgomery said.

ready 2 rock 🤘 pic.twitter.com/3s7DTYypMj
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 9, 2025

The numbers tell the story. Under Bannister, the Blues had a .432 points percentage. Since Montgomery took over, that figure has jumped to .568. Bannister’s Blues looked destined for the draft lottery, but with Montgomery at the helm, the team has regained its competitive edge.

The St. Louis Blues have completed 44 games this season, splitting their time evenly between two head coaches, with Drew Bannister and Jim Montgomery each coaching 22 games. Under Bannister, the team struggled with a 9-12-1 record, translating to a .432-point percentage. Since Montgomery took over, the Blues have shown noticeable improvement, posting an 11-8-3 record and a .568 points percentage.

However, the team remains a long shot for the NHL playoffs. Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets highlighted the challenges that persist.

The Key Differences Between Bannister and Montgomery

Let’s break down how Montgomery’s coaching approach stacks up against Bannister’s, based on performance metrics:

Team Performance

Points Pace:
Bannister’s Blues were on a 70.8-point pace, far from playoff contention. Montgomery has elevated that to 93.2, a significant step closer to competing for a postseason spot.
Goal Differential:
Bannister’s tenure saw a disappointing -22 goal differential, reflecting defensive struggles. Montgomery, on the other hand, has turned things around with a +13 goal differential.

5-on-5 Play

This is where Montgomery’s impact becomes even clearer:

Expected Goals:
Under Bannister, the team’s xGoals For was just 2.15 per game, while they allowed 2.60 xGoals Against. Montgomery has improved both figures, with xGoals For rising to 2.48 and xGoals Against dropping to 2.18.
This improvement translates to better efficiency—Bannister’s Blues had a 45.3% xGoals percentage, while Montgomery’s squad boasts 53.2%, a top-10 figure in the league.
Actual Goals:
Bannister’s Blues scored only 2.00 goals per game while conceding 2.89, leading to a dismal 40.9% goal percentage. Montgomery’s team now scores 2.63 goals per game and allows just 1.84, giving them an impressive 58.8% goal percentage.

Special Teams

While special teams remain a work in progress under Montgomery, they’ve shown signs of improvement:

Power Play:
Bannister’s Blues managed 6.8 expected goals on the power play, while Montgomery has pushed that number to 9.8. Actual power-play goals have also improved slightly, from 6.6 to 6.9.
Penalty Kill:
One area where Bannister’s team performed slightly better was limiting expected goals against on the penalty kill (8.3 compared to Montgomery’s 12.0). However, Montgomery’s penalty kill has allowed fewer actual goals, reflecting better execution.

Skater Ratings

Bannister’s Blues struggled in individual player performance, with a net skater rating of -12.5, including a woeful -13.4 offensive rating. Montgomery has turned this around, bringing the net rating to +17.8, with noticeable improvements in both offensive (+7.4) and defensive (+10.4) ratings.

Also Read: New York Islanders Goalie Rotation Strengthened as Semyon Varlamov Nears Recovery from Illness

Montgomery’s Coaching style gave new energy to the Blues

Montgomery’s success goes beyond stats. He’s brought new energy to the locker room and has managed to get more out of his players. Veterans who seemed past their prime under Bannister are thriving again, while younger players are finding their footing. Even with key injuries to players like Robert Thomas and Philip Broberg, Montgomery has managed to steady the ship.

An iconic painting for an iconic milestone moment. #stlblues

(🎨: @darrigoart) pic.twitter.com/G6je4FbsJ1
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 10, 2025

For example, the Blues’ performance in 5-on-5 play has been a game-changer. While they still face challenges on special teams, the overall process and execution have vastly improved. Montgomery’s ability to adapt and make tactical changes has revitalized the team’s approach.

The Blues might still face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but they’re heading in the right direction under Jim Montgomery. Compared to Drew Bannister’s time as coach, the team is more competitive, more consistent, and more optimistic about the future. With Montgomery leading the charge, the Blues are once again a team to watch.

Image Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Drew Bannister

Jim Montgomery

NHL

St. Louis Blues

Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!