Top 10 | The best quotes from Martin St-Louis

Every year for three years, The Press offers you a top 10 of the best quotes from coaches or athletes. This year, the man who speaks most often to the media in Quebec, Martin St-Louis, is in the spotlight. Here are the 10 best quotes, whether serious or funny, from the Canadiens head coach for the past year.

10. The power play like an orchestra

Following a training session focused on the power play during training camp in September, Martin St-Louis explained how he perceived this facet of hockey. As is his wont, he suggested an analogy. “For me, the power play is like an orchestra. You have the different instruments and they all know when it's their turn to play, what beat they should play. It takes time to build that. »

9. Block everything

It is the morning of the first match of the 2024-2025 season. Since the team's annual golf tournament, management has been loud and clear about wanting to “be in the mix” this season – read here that they are aiming to be among the teams that will battle for a playoff spot. A few hours before the first match, therefore, colleague Guillaume Lefrançois questions St-Louis about what he says to his players in order to give them the confidence of being able to accomplish something good this season. “I tell them the truth, let go coach. My group knows what I think of him. Your brain will always listen to your thoughts. […] It's always the group against everyone. Anytime. The opponents, you people… everything. We have to block all that out and focus on what we're doing. »

8. Post-victory beer

The day after the 3-2 overtime defeat against the Calgary Flames on November 5, Martin St-Louis was asked by a journalist if he had a drink after the match, in order to better digest the setback. “Are we going to talk about my drinking?” », replies the coach point blank with a laugh, thereby provoking a collective laugh within the group of journalists. “I don't think I'm going to use alcohol to recover from the defeat, but I will say this: beer tastes better after a victory,” he adds with a smile.

7. Ignore criticism

On October 25, the Canadian won only two of his first seven matches. Media and supporters alike are starting to talk about the possibility that Martin St-Louis is no longer the man for the job. Asked about the criticisms against him, the head coach does not seem bothered in the least, not reading what is said about him. “Why would I listen to criticism from someone I would never go to for advice? he blurted. […] I'm almost grateful because I'm used to pushing through obstacles and [de convaincre] people who doubt me. »

6. Match 3

Start of the 2024-2025 season. The Habs have just lost 6-4 against the Boston Bruins in their second game of the season and are preparing to face the Ottawa Senators, against whom they have lost their last nine duels. The head coach, however, refuses to use this sequence of failures as motivation. “It’s the game 3 of the season, I don't think I have to challenge my group. The guys know how we performed against these teams recently. […] If it is necessary to challenge your team in game 3, is it going to be a long season, do you think? », he says correctly.

5. Better than young people aged 12-14

Before accepting the position of head coach of the Canadiens in 2022, Martin St-Louis coached a team in the M13 category (under 13). Last November 22, after explaining that he prefers, in his teachings, to concentrate on the players who do not have the puck rather than on the one who has the puck, the coach highlighted how quickly his players learn. “The thing that fascinates me the most, since I became a coach, is that when you teach something to the most elite players, it is quickly absorbed. It's not like 12-14 year olds… It took time! », he exclaimed laughing, himself amused by his comparison.

4. Gallagher, l’iPhone

Martin St-Louis' analogies are sometimes lame, sometimes very clear. On November 22, he compared Brendan Gallagher to an iPhone whose software becomes more efficient over time. “Since I arrived, Gally has improved its software. Like an iPhone! […] I think it's never too late to improve software. When you upgrade it, you have more options. I know Gally is good in front of goal, but that's not the only thing he does now. He does much more than that. »

3. The Bell Center on a Saturday evening

Supporters love strong quotes. That of January 13 falls into this category. As the team prepares to face the Edmonton Oilers, the head coach is asked to describe what it's like to play at the Bell Center on a Saturday night. “If it was my last day on this planet, and you asked me what I would like to do, I would like to be in this building on a Saturday evening,” replies St-Louis in what will become a quote widely shared on the networks social.

2. Youth and temptations

After a 4-1 defeat against the Los Angeles Kings on October 17, youth, immaturity and temptation were at the heart of discussions in the Canadian's locker room. To the media, Martin St-Louis detailed his desire for his troops to exercise a “deep” style. [deep game mentality] and mature, which consists of sending pucks deep into the opposing zone rather than making risky or unnecessary plays. Except that this is not at all what CH did in this match. “It’s a bit of a sign of youth. There are several moments when it's tempting to play a game,” explained St-Louis, before shooting the mischievous look of someone who knows full well that his words could be quoted out of context. “And when you’re young, it’s easy to be tempted.” »

1. “We vomited on each other”

This one is very recent and will go down in history. It was last October 31, after a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in a difficult start to the season for the team. After explaining that his players had had a “good first period” and an imperfect second period with “errors on both sides”, Martin St-Louis gave it his best shot. “And in the third, we vomited on each other,” he said to everyone’s surprise, he who is not used to being so publicly harsh towards his players. A few games later, St. Louis referenced that quote again after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames. “We didn’t vomit on ourselves tonight, but it hurts my heart a little,” he said.