MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — The St. Louis Blues had just stepped onto the ice for what would normally be a routine Friday practice at the end of November.
Routine as in a solid 30-45 minute practice, get off the ice and call it a day.
But this was no ordinary practice. This was Jim Montgomery’s first practice as Blues head coach at home and second full practice since being hired Nov. 24.
Instead of having a shorter, sharp and brisk practice, it was longer, players then head off to watch video while facility staff flood and sweep the ice, then players return and work over for another 15-20 minutes what they just went through on video.
It’s probably something these players have ever done before.
“Two training camps,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn asked, when asked himself if he’s ever done anything like that before. “It was great.
“You know what, it’s just little details that we need to work on. I don’t think it was a hard practice, but he’s not trying to go out there and bag us and make us tired. I think he’s just working on details that we need to do and clean up some things. Guys have no problem with it. They respect it. That’s just us getting better day by day. We have a lot of work to do to climb back in this, but we’ve got a good feeling in the room right now.”
These are all part of the things that Montgomery, who was fired by the Boston Bruins Nov. 19 and hired by the Blues five days later, wants to alter: details, energy, pace, an environment that is fun to be around and teaching.
“I just think it’s the way ‘Monty’ shows up to the rink every day and the energy he wants us to have, he demands us to have that kind of energy and to have pace with our drills,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “He believes the rink is a place where you go to have fun and do your job, obviously execute and do things right but have fun doing it. I think that’s helped us over the last little bit.
“Guys are just coming to the rink with a different mindset. Obviously a new coach just brings that in itself naturally, but I think just what he’s been preaching has really got guys excited to come to the rink today again.”
And that’s what the coach wants and likes to hear. He’s going to be detail-oriented whether they like it or not, and they certainly do seem to be receptive to it.
“I’m glad that they’re saying that,” Montgomery said. “The one thing I’ve noticed is how hungry they are. In the video sessions and then getting out on practice and then you’re seeing the energy carry over into…