Martin St-Louis Ranks Seventh in THN’s Coach Rankings, Proving His Worth with Canadiens

When Martin St-Louis was appointed as the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens in February 2022, many were skeptical. General Manager Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton had chosen a man with no prior NHL coaching experience to lead one of hockey’s most storied franchises, a decision that raised eyebrows in a city where the sport is a way of life. Critics speculated that St-Louis would merely serve as a temporary fix while evaluating the roster during a challenging season.

Fast forward over four years, and St-Louis has firmly established himself as more than just a stopgap coach. What many didn’t realize at the time was that he had been preparing for this role long before his tenure began. According to an interview with Steve Begin published in La Presse, St-Louis was already coaching his teammates during his playing days, even while in the AHL with the Calgary Flames. His passion for the game and commitment to developing others has been evident since his early career.

Now, after 365 regular-season games behind the Canadiens’ bench, St-Louis boasts a record of 162 wins, 155 losses, and 47 overtime losses, translating to a points percentage of .511. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the challenges the team faced when he took over. Moreover, he has accumulated playoff experience, with 24 games under his belt and a record of 10 wins and 14 losses, including a notable seven-game series victory against seasoned coaches like Jon Cooper and Lindy Ruff.

St-Louis’s impact transcends statistics; he has proven to be an exceptional communicator and teacher. Unlike some former players who struggle to translate their on-ice brilliance into coaching success—think Wayne Gretzky’s tenure with the Arizona Coyotes—St-Louis has effectively connected with his players. His ability to adapt was on full display during the Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After initially sticking to his preferred matchups, he quickly recognized the need for change and began adjusting his lines, ultimately outmaneuvering Cooper in a high-stakes matchup.

However, St-Louis is not without his flaws. His inexperience became apparent during the third round against Rod Brind’Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes, where the Canadiens were eliminated in just five games and struggled to find their rhythm. Yet, like his players, St-Louis is likely to glean valuable lessons from this experience.

As it stands, St-Louis is the fifth-longest-tenured coach in the NHL, trailing only Cooper, Jared Bednar, Brind’Amour, and Andre Tourigny. His current contract with the Canadiens is set to expire at the end of the season. While Hughes has mentioned that extending St-Louis’s contract is a priority, no updates have been provided as of yet.

In the meantime, the Canadiens have appointed Derek Lalonde as an associate coach, following Trevor Letowski’s decision to step back for family time. Letowski was a key figure in St-Louis’s coaching staff, and his absence will be felt. Nevertheless, it would be surprising if St-Louis began the upcoming season without a new contract, as he has consistently demonstrated his value to the franchise.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.