The new interim general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St.Louis, will make his NHL head coaching debut Thursday night when his team takes on the Washington Capitals, meaning he’ll have 37 games to try to forfeit his interim day.
“I’m not coming here to become a substitute teacher. … I intend to be here for a long time, but I have to prove myself again and deserve it,” St.Louis at his introductory press conference, according To Athletic’s Arpon Basu.
The Canadiens fired Dominique Ducharme on Wednesday, less than a year after he helped the Habs lead an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
During a season marked by incredible injuries and losses, Jeff Gorton, executive vice president of hockey operations for the Canadiens, realized that the overcome team needed a “spark”. NHL.com Nick is Cotsonika.
Gorton added that he and general manager Kent Hughes had already decided to let Ducharme go at the end of this Season, but they decided to shorten his tenure because the situation “got worse,” according to TSN’s John Lu.
St. Louis, a veteran of 1,134 NHL games as a player, coached Peewee Hockey in Connecticut before he was hired, joking that his experience is exactly what Canadians need.
“If there’s anything this team needs right now, it’s for fun. When these guys were at Peewee, they were having fun, so I’m probably the most qualified guy right now,” he told per Basu.
He added: “My job is just to inspire them, and I think that’s one of my strengths.”
BROSSARD, QC – DECEMBER 03: Newly appointed executive vice president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, Jeff Gorton, addresses the media during a press conference at Complexe Sportif Bell on December 3, 2021 in Brossard, Canada. Jeff Gordon was hired by the Canadiens after former general manager Marc Bergevin was fired on November 28, 2021. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Moving from Peewee’s Coaching to an original Six Franchise is a leap, but the Laval, Que., native isn’t enthusiastic.
“My dream has always been to become an NHL coach. For me, … it was a matter of time. … Give me a chance and I’ll show what I can,” he said.
Hughes also hinted at other changes and said the coaching shakeup will be “the first of many,” according to Cotsonika.
