Everyone from fans to media to the players to rival executives were shocked when the Montreal Canadiens announced Martin St. Louis as Dominique Ducharme’s replacement on an interim basis.
No one saw it coming.
In the end, it turned out to be a home run hiring as the team has played its best hockey since his hiring and players like Cole Caufield can finally play like they are supposed to play. It seems obvious that the team should offer St. Louis a contract extension at the end of the season.
Hold your horses, says Darren Dreger. According to the insider, keeping St. Louis behind the bench might be easier said than done, in an interview he gave on TSN 690.
ICYMI: @DarrenDreger joined @mckennaconor and @MatthewOhayon to talk about some potential changes being discussed at the @NHLdotcom general managers meetings. He also talked about Martin St. Louis' future with the @CanadiensMTL. Listen: https://t.co/s2WlMUj3dW
— TSN 690 Radio (@TSN690) March 28, 2022
In a reason Q & A with fans, Jeff Gorton revealed that he is impressed with the work that St. Louis has done thus far and would definitely negotiate an extension.
This is where things get complicated.
When retiring as a player, Martin St. Louis thanked his wife, Heather, and committed to staying home to help raise their children. He did so to a point where he became a minor league coach. When he accepted the position of Head Coach of the Canadiens, he once again thanked his wife the opportunity to see if coaching at the NHL level was something he would enjoyed.
The St. Louis have maintained an off-season home in Greenwich, Connecticut for many year now. The family made things work when he was playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but needless to say the family was ecstatic when St. Louis joined the New York Rangers, which is about an hour drive from Greenwich.
Granted, Montreal is a lot closer to Connecticut than Florida is. Perhaps there will be a way that the family can come to an agreement as to how things will flow, however, the St. Louis’ have three teenage sons that need as much attention as possible.
This would likely better explain the “interim” tag that was put on our head coach. We all hope he returns as head coach, but there are still chances he remains with the team but in another capacity in order to stay closer to home.
To be continued, as they say.
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