Finnish journalist reveals reasons for Jim Montgomery's firing

In case you missed the news Monday, the Dallas Stars shocked the world by firing head coach Jim Montgomery for “unprofessional conduct.”

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Read below for the official press release announcement:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that Jim Montgomery has been dismissed as the team's Head Coach. Effective immediately, Rick Bowness, who has served as Assistant Coach since June 22, 2018, will assume the role of Interim Head Coach for the team.

Additionally, Derek Laxdal, who was serving as the Head Coach of the Texas Stars, will be added to Bowness' staff as Assistant Coach. Neil Graham has been named Head Coach of the Texas Stars. He was serving as Texas' Assistant Coach.

Additionally, Stars GM Jim Nill released a statement:

"The Dallas Stars expect all of our employees to act with integrity and exhibit professional behavior while working for and representing our organization. This decision was made due to unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League." 

Suffice it to say, there's a LOT more to this story that we expect to come out in the next while. Given the climate these days around the NHL coaching ranks and with allegations laid against long-time NHL coaches like Mike Babcock, Bill Peters and Marc Crawford, you just KNEW that it was only a matter or time until someone else lost their job. Turns out... it's Montgomery.

Nill held a press conference to discuss Montgomery's firing but added essentially no details or insight into the firing. Now Montgomery himself is weighing in on things but... surprise, surprise... he's not talking much either.

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NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet shed some light on Montgomery's firing though, but didn't want to tip his hand too much on his latest 31 Thoughts podcast. Friedman chose his words carefully, but did go on to say that Montgomery "liked to have fun in life."

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"Nobody ever questioned his coaching. I think that the only thing anyone ever questioned him about was, ya know, he liked to have fun in life. Now, here's why I'm so careful with this stuff... I like to have fun in life. Okay? I'm no angel. But, I don't believe I've ever crossed a line, or at least I hope I never have. I try to treat people respectfully and I understand that I cannot let it affect my job."

Alrighty then... so what'd be do?

Well, Finnish hockey journalist Antti Makinen reports that Montgomery's firing was due to "alcohol use and subsequent misconduct."

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Translation: "I heard from my source that Jim Montgomery's firing in Dallas was related to alcohol use and subsequent misconduct."

Again... you just KNOW that the truth regarding this matter will get out sooner or later. Now, we wait to see if anyone else corroborates Makinen's report.