An unprecedented unease currently reigns between Martin St-Louis and the renowned journalist Pierre LeBrun, an unease which risks leaving deep traces.
LeBrun, known for his professionalism and his privileged access behind the scenes of the NHL, betrayed St-Louis today by speaking about the lack of experience behind the Montreal Canadiens bench on BPM Sports.
In a sharp comment, he said: “I went around the league in the last week, when it comes to the Canadian, the subject that comes up is that Montreal should perhaps have brought in more experience behind the bench . »
A comment which suggests that the hockey world no longer takes the team formed by St-Louis and its assistants seriously.
Can we really blame the other DGs?
St-Louis comes from bantam. And Stéphane Robidas comes from Midget AAA.
For the head coach of CH, it is a hard blow, especially since he now has to face critical eyes from the entire league, where many seem to mock his approach and his choices .
This statement from LeBrun had the effect of a bombshell, and it is unlikely that St. Louis will ever forgive him for exposing him like this.
For him, it’s not just a matter of criticism: it’s a public humiliation orchestrated by one of the most respected journalists in the league.
And this comes at a time when the honeymoon between St-Louis and CH supporters seems well and truly over.
The fans, after having been patient for a long time due to the reconstruction of the team, are starting to get impatient and are demanding concrete results.
St. Louis’ repeated mistakes and lack of response, especially to some underperforming veterans like Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia, are becoming difficult to justify.
According to Elliotte Friedman, another influential analyst, this questioning of his skills could act as additional motivation for St-Louis.
In his podcast, Friedman recalled that every time St. Louis was underestimated, he found a way to prove he belonged.
The former star player has always been known for his fighting spirit, having had to fight to join the Canadian Olympic team in 2014 after not being initially selected by Steve Yzerman, his general manager at the time with the Lightning from Tampa Bay.
This episode, where he had to prove his worth despite an initial sidelining, left a mark on St-Louis, who never forgets when he is underestimated.
This does not take away the fact that St-Louis acts like a panic coach…who trains with fear in his stomach.
We don’t see any strong message from St. Louis towards its unwanted veterans. Meanwhile, the only player regularly punished for his mistakes is Arber Xhekaj, his favorite scapegoat.
St. Louis’ inability to adapt during games is starting to take its toll. The lack of responsiveness, the absence of strategic changes and the inability to discipline players who do not meet expectations fuel a growing unease, both among fans and in the media.
Pierre LeBrun’s message, as direct as it is, recalls a reality that St-Louis can no longer ignore, as cruel as it may be.
The CH head coach is now faced with an immense challenge: he must prove to his detractors that he is capable of turning things around and managing his team with the authority of an NHL coach.
Meanwhile, the NHL is laughing at him…at us…at Montreal…and at all of Quebec.
We bet that Martin St-Louis will refuse Pierre LeBrun’s next interview.
Ouch.
