Canadiens Need to Take Care of Martin St. Louis Extension – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

With training camp approaching, much of the attention surrounding the Montreal Canadiens has been focused on the players who still need contracts. Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj remain two important restricted free agents for the organization to take care of, but there is another contract situation that should not be overlooked.

Martin St. Louis is also entering the final year of his contract. While there might not be the same urgency that comes with an unsigned player who needs a deal before stepping onto the ice, extending St. Louis should still be one of the Canadiens’ priorities before the 2026-27 season begins. Montreal has spent the last several years building something under St. Louis, and with expectations now significantly higher, there is little reason to allow uncertainty around the head coach to linger.

St. Louis Has Earned an Extension

When St. Louis originally took over behind the Canadiens’ bench in February 2022, he was one of the biggest coaching gambles in the NHL. He had no previous professional coaching experience and was being asked to take over a struggling team in the middle of a major organizational transition.

A few years later, it is difficult to argue with the direction Montreal has taken. St. Louis has helped oversee the development of several of the most important players in the organization. Nick Suzuki has continued growing into one of the league’s best two-way centres and is now a Selke Trophy winner. Cole Caufield has developed into an elite goal scorer, while Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson have become major pieces of the Canadiens’ core.

More importantly, Montreal has transitioned from simply being an exciting young team to one capable of making noise in the playoffs. The Canadiens took another major step in 2025-26, and expectations entering this season are no longer simply about development. Montreal is expected to compete. St. Louis helped get the organization to this point, and he deserves the opportunity to continue pushing it toward Stanley Cup contention.

Stability Matters for a Young Canadiens Team

There is also something to be said about stability. Montreal has built its current core with the long term in mind. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Hutson and Noah Dobson are all major parts of what the organization hopes will eventually become a championship team. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have done an excellent job creating stability around that group.

Allowing St. Louis to enter the season without an extension would immediately create questions every time the Canadiens go through a difficult stretch. A five-game losing streak could suddenly lead to speculation about his future. A disappointing first round of the playoffs could turn the final months of his contract into a major storyline. That would be an unnecessary distraction for a team that should be focused on taking another step forward.

There is obviously always some risk involved in extending a coach. Things can change quickly in the NHL, and coaches rarely stay behind the same bench forever. However, St. Louis has given Montreal very little reason to believe a change is currently necessary. The Canadiens know his coaching style, the players know what he expects, and perhaps most importantly, the young core appears comfortable developing under him.

Get It Done Before Camp

That is why getting an extension done before training camp would make plenty of sense. The Canadiens already have enough storylines entering camp. Bolduc and Xhekaj’s contract situations need to be resolved, there will be competition for roster spots, and Montreal will enter the season with some of its highest expectations in years.

St. Louis’ future does not need to become another one. Extending him before camp would send a simple message: the Canadiens believe he is still the coach to lead this group into its next phase.

The job is different now than it was when St. Louis arrived. He is no longer coaching a rebuilding team where development matters more than wins. Montreal wants to win, expectations are rising, and St. Louis will now be judged on how far he can take this roster.

But after helping guide the Canadiens through the rebuilding years and into their current competitive window, St. Louis has earned the chance to lead them through the next stage as well.

There is no reason for Montreal to enter the season with uncertainty surrounding its head coach. Get the extension done, eliminate the distraction and let St. Louis focus entirely on what matters next: seeing just how far this Canadiens team can go.