Rumblings of coaching change in Montreal with Martin St. Louis possibly stepping down

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t had any luck really since the start of the 2024-25 season, posting a 2-4-1 record and placing dead last in the Atlantic division. Sure, many injuries have come the Habs’ way, especially with losing their new forward Patrik Laine in the preseason to a significant knee injury. However, patience is beginning to run low and Montreal insider Tony Marinaro stated how he believes the Canadiens and head coach Martin St. Louis will soon part ways.

In the aftermath of the humiliating 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers at home, questions arose on if St. Louis is the right guy for the young players in the dressing room, and how he’s been given the chance for a couple of seasons, with nothing really to show for it. Marinaro blamed St. Louis for the recent blowout loss, which only prompted other reporters to agree with him.

Fellow analyst Jean-Charles Lajoie also joined the conversation on St. Louis being on the hot season, and raised questions on his future wiht the organization. Lajoie believes that the Canadiens and St. Louis will have to face reality and that he will step down as head coach, seeing that a firing might be hard for close friends and general manager Kent Hughes and executive vice president Jeff Gorton.

“Martin St-Louis won’t get fired, but he’ll resign by mutual agreement when the time comes,” Lajoie said on QUB radio.

While some fans agree that it may be time for a coaching change in Montreal, other have been quite vocal about other changes needed to make the Canadiens a winning team, and eventually, a contender. On last night’s Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun stated that GM Hughes could be looking on the trade market for some help:

“Well, they’re already making calls around the league is the reality of it and I do think the slow start is part of that. Although, Kent Hughes, traditionally since he’s become a GM in this league has become one of the more active guys in terms of staying in touch with other teams, but in hearing from other teams around the league, Kent Hughes is poking around trying to see what’s out there on the market because I do think there’s a desire for the Habs to add a piece here, perhaps, and change the makeup a bit of this team. This is a big year, not playoffs, let’s be real, but certainly to make a step and to show real improvement. So, nothing imminent and it’s extremely hard to make trades at this time of year, but Kent Hughes certainly phoning around right now.”

No matter what happens in the coming weeks, one thing is obvious and that the heat on St. Louis to turn things around and the players to start fighting for their head coach if they want him to stick around. This is one of the biggest tests for St. Louis since being hired in 2022.