It's nearly 24 hours after the Montreal Canadiens were eliminated from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Washington Capitals. It stung in the moment, but most Habs fans were able to put it in perspective and realize Montreal overachieved this season. Losing in the postseason isn't easy for any fanbase to swallow, but being in the position the Canadiens are in makes it a bit better. Martin St. Louis understands that the NHL's road to contention is a marathon not a sprint, and he kept that in perspective in his post-game press conference.
""The pain that you feel right now is normal, but it's not even close to the joy that's coming.""Martin St. Louis
St. Louis knows all about going through the rough times to get to the end goal. He wasn't even supposed to make the NHL in his era because of his size, but against-all-odds he became a star with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He, Brad Richards, and Vincent Lecavalier made up a solid young core for the Lightning, and they eventually broke through in 2004 and won his only Stanley Cup as a player.
2003-04 was St. Louis' breakout season, which included his first regular season over a point-per-game and another 24 points in 23 games in the postseason. He likely sees similarities in himself and some of the young players he currently coaches, and believes they are a couple of breakout performances away from challenging for the championship.
My opinion on St. Louis as a coach varies, but there's no denying that he knows exactly what it takes to win at this level. He might not have the experience to run his bench at a Stanley Cup level, but I'd believe him 100% if he chooses to believe that this team isn't far from winning. While most believe St. Louis will be the head coach when the Canadiens win, I am a bit more skeptical of that happening. However, we'll take his word for it when he says there is joy coming.