The Montreal Canadiens Country Club, an expression that has become infamous to describe the permissive atmosphere reigning around the team, continues to be talked about.
This overly lenient management of Martin St-Louis, often described as “pro-players”, seems to have reached a new peak of frustration.
And among the players who could break out soon: Patrik Laine, whose smile fades a little more with each match
Patrik Laine is no stranger to the frustrations of his role on a team. In Winnipeg, he openly sulked when he was relegated to the second line, believing his natural place was alongside the best players.
In Columbus, history repeated itself: Laine took the fact of not systematically appearing on the first line very badly.
Today in Montreal, the Finnish winger could well explode again. Despite his undeniable offensive skills, Laine seems misused and undervalued in a team where strategic decisions raise many questions.
His absence from the top line, alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, is starting to become a major sticking point.
One of the recurring criticisms of Martin St-Louis is his lenient approach towards his players, an attitude which fuels the Country Club’s reputation.
This permissiveness has an obvious cost: the Canadiens are among the most undisciplined teams in the NHL, accumulating penalties and errors with no apparent consequences.
Take the recent example of Kirby Dach, who took a costly penalty against the New York Rangers, allowing Kaapo Kakko to score the game-winning goal.
Last Saturday, in Winnipeg, Dach did it again with another costly penalty. And yet, each time, St-Louis defends its players at a press conference:
“It’s an aggressiveness penalty,” he said after the loss to the Jets.
For analysts like Tony Marinaro, this indulgence sends the wrong message:
“When there are punishments, when no one is accountable and there are no consequences, you will continue to do them”hammered Marinaro on TVA Sports.
“At home or at school, when you do things you’re not supposed to do and there are no consequences, you keep doing them. This is what happens with Canadians! »
In this country club context, Patrik Laine, a player known for his ego and his desire to be placed in optimal situations, could quickly lose patience.
Lack of structure and discipline, combined with inconsistent use, only amplifies the discomfort.
Laine has not been a stable addition to the top line, a situation reminiscent of his past frustrations in Winnipeg and Columbus.
“I want to see Patrik Laine on the first line with Caufield and Suzuki”declared Jean-Charles Lajoie to TVA Sports.
“This guy needs to play with the best to maximize his impact. »
Laine’s frustration is all the more understandable as Martin St-Louis continues to protect ineffective veterans like Josh Anderson, while limiting the potential of his star players.
If the situation doesn’t change quickly, Laine could well explode, and not just on the ice.
The management of St-Louis is attracting more and more criticism, not only for its inability to impose discipline, but also for its lack of strategic vision.
The notion of “accountability”, a key element in any NHL locker room, seems completely absent among the Canadiens.
In a team searching for an identity, players like Patrik Laine, accustomed to a certain level of excellence, can only feel lost and undervalued.
Patrik Laine is a competitor, a proud player who doesn’t hesitate to express his frustrations when things don’t go his way.
If Martin St-Louis continues to favor his favorites and spare certain players while neglecting to fully integrate Laine into the best offensive combinations, the coach could soon have to manage a media and internal explosion.
In a market as passionate and demanding as Montreal, a Country Club has no place.
Fans, already frustrated by the team’s disappointing performance, are starting to ask questions: How long until Patrik Laine makes his voice heard?
And above all, how long before St. Louis has to deal with a mutiny in the locker room?
Laine’s patience is wearing thin, and so are the fans’.
The ball is in St-Louis’ court, but is the Montreal coach ready to leave the comfort of the Country Club to give his team the intensity and direction it sorely lacks?
