Martin St-Louis’ days at the helm of the Montreal Canadiens seem numbered, at least if we are to believe the alarming predictions from La Presse and 98.5 FM.
Alexandre Pratt and Stéphane were direct in their assessment: if CH loses the next two matches, the storm will be immense.
It must be concluded that St-Louis would be in real danger of losing his position.
This forecast, far from being isolated, is reinforced by the words of Stéphane Waite, former goalkeeper coach with the Canadiens, who did not hesitate to emphasize the financial security of St-Louis and its protective connections within management. .
According to Waite, Martin St-Louis has nothing to worry about:
“Martin St-Louis if it doesn’t work, he’ll go back home, he’s full of cash and that won’t stop him from sleeping. Another thing: he is very well protected by his friends upstairs. »
These words echo a growing feeling in the community of supporters and experts: the frustration of seeing a team stalling, protected by a management which, despite setbacks, seems to hesitate to make decisive decisions.
The complicity between St-Louis, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, described as a circle of loyal friends, began to irritate those who demanded results and a more efficient playing system.
For Alexandre Pratt, the situation is clear:
“Friends, hang in there, it’s going to be a force 5 hurricane in Montreal if they lose the next two games. Really, it’s going to fly again. »
A metaphor that well describes the scale of the crisis brewing in Montreal. If the CH records two more defeats, the St-Louis position could be at stake, and the fallout would be explosive.
This additional pressure weighing on St-Louis’ shoulders only adds to the climate of tension already palpable within the organization.
For many, St. Louis embodies the hope of renewal with its relaxed approach, its inspiring speeches, and its supposedly modern vision.
But patience has limits, and the team, despite promises of development, continues to stumble, show glaring defensive weaknesses, and struggle to follow a playing system that seems to destabilize the players more than unify them. .
Waite, with his usual bluntness, adds a touch of cynicism to the situation. According to him, St-Louis is not at all worried by the threat of dismissal.
With a comfortable personal fortune (more than $60 million without taking into account his annual salary of $5 million until 2027), the CH coach would not feel concerned by the criticism or the defeats that accumulate.
Protected by Hughes and Gorton, his close allies, St. Louis might be content to return to his life without batting an eyelid if things go wrong.
This portrait of a coach detached from financial pressure or the fear of failure makes one cringe.
For fans, the situation takes another turn: how could they hope for a turnaround if they perceive a total lack of commitment on the part of their coach?
This image of an indifferent St. Louis, comfortably installed in its position, reinforces the idea that the organization protects its friends more than the interests of its supporters.
Finally, Waite’s mention of Matvei Michkov, a player under the uncompromising John Tortorella, adds a biting comparison.
Waite points out that Michkov, one of the NHL’s biggest prospects, could one day thank Tortorella for his sternness and demanding approach:
“In a few years, Michkov will thank Tortorella, he will say: he made me a player who plays the right way. »
This parallel reminds us of the importance of strong, uncompromising leadership.
Unlike St-Louis, who seems more tolerant, even complacent with his group, Tortorella is a coach who imposes high standards without any detour.
This is the type of coaching that Montreal may need to get its players back on track.
In a market as passionate and demanding as Montreal, supporters cannot remain indifferent to what they perceive as a lack of progress.
Rumors of firings spread, and the possibility of a restructuring at the top of the team begins to seem inevitable.
For many, patience with the St. Louis project is wearing thin. The fans want results, and if the CH continues to lose, it will become increasingly difficult for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton to defend their friend without risking a break with the fans.
In short, the days to come will be decisive. Martin St-Louis will have to prove that he is the man for the job, otherwise he could well join the long list of coaches who did not survive the Montreal media storm.
The fans hold their breath, waiting to see if their team, under pressure, will manage to react before the hurricane hits.
In the meantime, St. Louis can relax according to Waite. After all, he is so rich.
Last night, during his press conference, Martin St-Louis seemed exhausted. His features were marked, his shoulders slightly lowered, revealing the fatigue accumulated since his arrival in the most demanding role in Quebec hockey.
Despite this appearance of exhaustion, he wanted to reassure the journalists present, affirming that he had not lost his morale.
But for those who know him well, especially his wife and children, this visible fatigue does not go unnoticed.
They have seen, over the past two years, the impact this position has had on him – a weight that has only grown heavier with time.
Indeed, Martin St-Louis could easily retire and enjoy a peaceful retirement, surrounded by his family. For him, the financial aspect has never been a driving force.
It was the passion for hockey, the desire to pass on his knowledge, and the call for challenge that led him to accept this position with the Canadiens.
Yet today, as criticism mounts and results lag, some wonder whether it would not be liberating for him to abandon this role.
By leaving Montreal, St-Louis would regain a freedom and balance that he had to sacrifice for this demanding profession. This role as head coach forced him to spend hours away from his family, managing the ups and downs of the season under the watchful and critical eye of an entire city.
A dismissal could offer him a “gift in disguise”: a return to a life where obligations are less oppressive, where he could enjoy simple moments with his family without the weight of Montreal expectations.
Passion, a Strength and a Curse
However, the same passion that pushed him to invest in this position is also what makes leaving so difficult. Martin St-Louis only knows hockey.
He rose through the ranks from underrated player to NHL star, and put all his energy into teaching his famous hybrid system that his players don’t understand.
During his conference, he again fervently defended his vision of hockey and his philosophy of patience with young people.
He knows that the sacrifices are numerous. The travels, the long days, the emotional distance that separates him from his family – all of this leaves its mark.
But despite the signs of fatigue, despite the signs of premature aging that his loved ones have noticed, he persists. Because for him, nothing is more precious than living his passion.
If Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s decision is to end his tenure, it will not only be the end of a dream, but perhaps the end of an era of intense stress.
By returning to a less exposed life, he could protect his well-being, preserve the harmony of his family, and ultimately enjoy a deserved retirement.
In the end, if hockey flows in his veins, he could also rediscover the happiness of a life where passion is a choice, and not an obligation.
And perhaps one day, Montreal will remember him not only as the pee-wee coach who failed in his quest to guide the team through a rebuilding period, but also as a man who, for a time , sacrificed everything for the Canadian flame.
For better and for worse.
Especially the worst…
