Martin St-Louis May Step Down as Canadiens Head Coach According to NHL Analyst

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Daniel Lucente
October 24, 2024 (11:35)

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According to one NHL analyst, Martin St. Louis' days with the Canadiens are numbered, and it's only a matter of time before they decide to mutually part ways.

In the aftermath of the humiliating loss to the New York Rangers, questions began to pile up for head coach Martin St-Louis regarding his viability to lead this team. What was most disappointing in this performance, or lack thereof, was that it was on a night that was supposed to be about honoring the legends of the Canadiens franchise, making the loss even more bitter. This has people questioning whether St. Louis is truly the right man for the job, especially with a lackluster display coupled with a rough start to the season.

This loss has brought a host of comments from well-known personalities in the Montreal hockey world and at the forefront was sports analyst and insider Tony Marinaro, who did not mince any words whatsoever in his criticism. Following the fiery comment by Marinaro, fellow analyst Jean-Charles Lajoie joined in, adding his voice to the mix. Both insiders did raise serious concerns about the direction of the team under St. Louis, with Lajoie going so far as to hint that change might be necessary, though he predicts it will come in a very unique fashion.

Jean-Charles Lajoie certainly stirred things up on QUB Radio during a heated debate when he uttered the following:

Martin St-Louis won't get fired, but he'll resign by mutual agreement when the time comes.

He uses his belief of how close St. Louis is with general manager Kent Hughes and executive vice president Jeff Gorton as the basis of his argument. According to him, this makes management too attached to their coach and they could never let him go. Despite this, Lajoie believes the writing may be on the wall if the team's poor form continues.

Interestingly, Jean-Charles Lajoie's comments have created debate among the fans and media alike. Many believe Martin St. Louis won't be the head coach much longer. Some agree with Lajoie's theory, the thought that the organization will not pull the plug on St. Louis, though some think otherwise: the coach's days are numbered if the Canadiens do not turn things around anytime soon. A mutual resignation does indeed save face for both parties, but surely the heat is on St. Louis to turn things around.

The bottom line is that for now, Martin St. Louis's future with the Canadiens is up in the air. His close relationship with management might extend his leash somewhat, but lousy performances will surely keep this conversation alive. Whether Jean-Charles Lajoie's prediction of a mutual resignation comes to pass or not, all eyes are watching St. Louis and the Canadiens to see how they respond in the coming weeks.

One thing that will determine his coaching career in Montreal will depend on how well the Canadiens will perform in their upcoming games, and another string of disappointments may lead to St. Louis heading out the door.