MONTY AND BUTCH

Jim Montgomery and Bruce Cassidy…

Not quite a year ago, I wrote a scathing piece excoriating the Bruins brass for unceremoniously kicking then-head coach Bruce “Butch” Cassidy to the curb.

[See “Bruce Cassidy, Claude Julien, Cam Neely and Don Sweeney,” June, 2022.]

I was irate.

It was unfathomable to me.

It was wrong.

Apparently, I was wrong.

Or not.

The 2022-’23 Boston Bruins set NHL records for wins (65); and points (135) on their way to winning the President’s Cup.

The Bs recorded their 50th win of the season in just 64 games, becoming the fastest team to 50 wins in a season in NHL history.

They lost 4 games at home…all year.

They were GREAT!!!

So were the Vegas Golden Knights.

Where Cassidy landed on June 14, just eight days after being hooked by the Bruins.

In 2022-’23, VGK won the Western Conference Pacific Division with a record of 51–22–9, good for 111 points.

Cassidy was Cassidy.

Last season’s Bruins under Butch, also won 51 games.

He continued to do what he’s done.

Monty, Jim Montgomery, was off his mind this year.

From Day 1, he had his players.

They all bought into his style, strategies and demeanor.

Every single day.

For about six months.

He became God Almighty as a coach, and rightfully.

Well…

Here’s the rub:

The Bruins were first round losers in the playoffs to the still-alive Florida Panthers.

VGK secured a place in the Western Conference Finals last night, dispatching uber-talented Edmonton.

What does this all mean?

Nothing really.

(Unless Vegas wins the Stanley Cup).

Simply yet another illustration that what goes around, comes around.

Beware.

[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in May 2023.]