Martin St-Louis finds himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position in Montreal, as calls for Pascal Vincent as a potential replacement intensify.
What once seemed like a joke thrown around by fans is now a serious topic of discussion on social media and in Canadiens fan circles.
Pascal Vincent, a coach with a solid background who has worked in all leagues unlike Martin St-Louis, is becoming the candidate of choice in the eyes of many fans to shake up the organization and bring back a semblance of stability in the Montreal locker room.
Especially when we see how well the system in Laval is understood by the players and how effective it is. Whereas in Montreal…there is no system, no identity, nothing at all.
The pressure is mounting even more on St-Louis, which is facing increasingly virulent criticism regarding the defensive structure and the Canadiens’ inability to manage the end of the match.
The team’s repeated failures this season have only intensified calls for a change of direction, and Pascal Vincent, who has risen through the ranks in the NHL and stands out for his in-depth knowledge of game systems and team management, seems in the eyes of many, like a natural choice for the CH.
Many fans on defensive system to the media.
They compare the tenacity of Vincent, a coach who worked his way in the world of professional hockey, to that of St-Louis, who sometimes seems to improvise or bank on his aura as a star player without real results, he who comes from bantam and who was hired simply because he is Kent Hughes’ friend.
In the eyes of more and more fans, Vincent represents a coach who “deserves” his position, having proven himself at the NHL level long before receiving an opportunity in Laval.
Influential voices in the media are also beginning to relay these opinions. In interviews, analysts like Tony Marinaro did not hesitate to point out that the CH is seriously lacking in supervision within the technical staff and that Vincent would be an ideal choice to remedy this gap.
“The problem is not only the lack of results, but above all the absence of defensive structure”says Marinaro.
“Vincent could not only remedy this, but he would also bring a voice of authority that currently seems to be lacking. »
As for Martin St-Louis, he must now manage not only the pressure to obtain results, but also the constant threat of a replacement increasingly popular with fans and the media.
To save the reputation and credibility of a coach who seems more and more isolated, there are fewer and fewer voices.
As if Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes were the last two men in Quebec who believed in him.
Meanwhile, Pascal Vincent sent a merciless message to the two leaders of the CH.
The coach made a bold decision by refusing to adopt Martin St-Louis’ hybrid system, preferring by far to offer his young players a more coherent structure adapted to their development.
Unlike St-Louis’ approach, which relies on a hybrid man-to-man system often considered vague and ill-suited for a team in reconstruction, Vincent believes that a well-defined defensive framework is crucial for the progression of the hopes of the club.
This approach sends a subtle but powerful message to Kent Hughes and the management of the Canadiens.
Vincent’s choice not to reproduce the controversial St-Louis system in Laval reflects not only his concern for the development of his players, but also his ambition to return to the NHL with an intact reputation.
As coach of the school club, Vincent could have blindly followed the directives of St-Louis, but he prefers to assert his independence and his experience by offering his protégés a structured system.
He knows full well that sacrificing the development of a young talent like Logan Mailloux to an imprecise hybrid system could harm his transition to the NHL.
For Vincent, who himself has a solid track record in the professional ranks, the current situation could well work out in his favor.
The St. Louis club is showing signs of exhaustion and frustration, and if the defeats continue to pile up, the need for a change in direction could quickly become unavoidable.
Vincent, aware of this possibility, already has one foot in the door of the NHL and does not intend to compromise his career by applying methods that he considers worthy of the pee-wee.
By refusing to integrate the St. Louis system, Vincent demonstrated to Kent Hughes that he was ready for the challenge of the NHL. He thus affirms that he is not only capable of making difficult decisions for the good of his players, but also of remaining faithful to management principles which have earned him respect in the world of hockey.
Hughes cannot ignore Vincent’s position, especially since the fans themselves are starting to wonder if a change of coach would not be the best path for the Canadian.
St. Louis’ defensive system leaves players shuffled like decks of cards, and its refusal to adapt its approach is starting to look like blind stubbornness.
The contrast with Vincent, who makes his young players shine in a solid structure, sends shivers down our spine.
The reality is cruel for St-Louis, a former star player unable to translate his talent on the ice into a winning system for his players.
Time is running out for the former NHL star, and the deadline is becoming imminent. As rumors multiply, Hughes and Gorton must realize that the Canadian can no longer advance without a coach capable of building a coherent system, and Vincent embodies what St-Louis is not.
Pascal’s message went straight to the station. Let’s say his message wasn’t…hybrid…
