Buy me a coffee?
For Montreal Canadiens fans—and even some media—head coach Martin St-Louis is almost untouchable, often hailed as a saviour for resurrecting a team that had fallen flat. Fan enthusiasm is one thing, but the lack of scrutiny from the media, traditionally known for being relentless, is surprising.
Take, for instance, the difference in handling defenseman Arber Xhekaj compared to other players. Recently, St-Louis openly criticized Xhekaj’s play after he was scratched for two games, which no one—Xhekaj included—disputed. Yet, no reporter pushed further to ask why Xhekaj was singled out while Justin Barron and David Savard, who make their share of mistakes, face no similar scrutiny.
In Xhekaj’s case, a reporter asked specifically why he was scratched the past two games. St-Louis, with his reply, openly criticized his young defenseman’s play saying that he had to be better… which no one will deny, not even the player himself. However, while the question was asked specifically about the big defenseman, why didn’t any reporter have the presence of mind, the wit that they usually have, and ask what the difference is between Xhekaj and say, Justin Barron, who makes mistakes, also has 100 NHL games under his belt, but takes a regular shift on the first pairing and gets back on the ice after a mistake? Or what about David Savard, or other veterans who aren’t criticized?
Statistically
Since St-Louis took over from Dominique Ducharme in February 2022, there’s been little to no progress in the Canadiens’ performance. The team still ranks near the bottom in both offense and defense, despite St-Louis’ emphasis on creative freedom over rigid systems. The data is telling:
| GF/GP | RANK | GA/GP | RANK | SH/GP | RANK | SA/GP | RANK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Feb.9/22 | 3.22 | 15th | 3.73 | 6th most | 30.6 | 20th | 34.1 | 6th most |
| 2022-23 | 2.77 | 26th | 3.72 | 4th most | 27.3 | 30th | 33.6 | 5th most |
| 2023-24 | 2.83 | 26th | 3.43 | 6th most | 27.7 | 28th | 33.4 | 3rd most |
| 2024-25 | 2.57 | 25th | 3.86 | 5th most | 25.6 | 31st | 35.0 | 2nd most |
| COMBINED | 2.87 | 28th | 3.61 | 5th most | 28.0 | 28th | 33.6 | 4th most |
While the offense took a bit of a jump immediately after he took over, it has stuttered (to say the least) since then. Yet, he has been preaching not having a system and wanting to allow for his forwards to have some freedom offensively. Where has that been since he’s taken over? It is clear to everyone watching that this team needs more structure, particularly on the defensive side, with zone coverage, puck retrieval and transition from defense to offense.
While true that the team is in a rebuild mode, it has been accelerated by Marc Bergevin’s reset of 2018, when he has accumulated young players (like Nick Suzuki) and draft picks and that, in spite of a surprise Stanley Cup run in 2021. That has been acknowledged in multiple occasions by both VP of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and GM Kent Hughes, inheriting young players like Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy and company.
Need for mentorship?
St-Louis’ approach may fit with a rebuilding team, but the lack of clear improvement raises questions about his methods. Despite a notable career as a player, St-Louis came into the job with zero professional coaching experience and no defined “system” philosophy, which has left fans wondering: where is the promised progress? Is that “freedom” too much too soon for a young team or do they need more “structure” to start their career?
In a recent interview on 98.5 FM radio, Kent Hughes was asked what he’d like to see St-Louis improve on. His response? The GM wishes his head coach would delegate more, noting that St-Louis tends to take everything on himself. Hughes hopes he’ll learn to trust his staff and give them greater responsibilities.
Ideally, the Canadiens could reach out to experienced former head coaches to mentor St-Louis. Several qualified candidates are available:
- Gerard Gallant
- Bruce Boudreau
- Bob Hartley
- Guy Boucher
- Alain Vigneault
- Joel Quenneville (although the Chicago scandal…)
The question remains: does Hughes have the courage to suggest his coach might need some help? Or, perhaps more importantly, could St-Louis, a very proud man, set aside his pride to accept an experienced mentor on the bench—and genuinely listen? St-Louis is sharp, but pride can sometimes stand in the way of progress.
The Canadiens need to start winning, as signs suggest the core players may be growing accustomed to defeat—a dangerous mindset for a team aiming to build a winning culture.
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