Montreal Canadiens extend head coach Martin St. Louis
The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to a multi-year extension with head coach Martin St. Louis, general manager Kent Hughes announced Monday.
St. Louis, who first joined the team as an interim coach in February 2022 and had earned the permanent job by June of that year, is entering his fifth season behind the bench in Montreal.
The Canadiens have seen their record and goals for and against totals improve in every season St. Louis has guided the team. Last season, they finished sixth in the NHL, with 106 points, and made it to the Eastern Conference final, where they were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
“If you have no culture, you might find some pockets of success, but you’ll never sustain that consistency with it,” St. Louis previously told The Gazette’s Stu Cowan. “So for us, it’s been the foundation for this rebuild.”
Before joining the Habs, St. Louis enjoyed a 16-year Hall of Fame playing career that saw him lift the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, but he had never coached higher than the bantam Triple-A level.
“Marty has done a terrific job leading our young team,” Hughes said in a statement. “He is a great communicator and teacher. We look forward to his continued efforts to mold this group into a championship-calibre team.”
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The Habs also announced on Monday that forward Josh Anderson will be an alternate captain for the 2026-27 season, filling the vacancy created by Brendan Gallagher’s departure.
The 32-year-old had 14 goals and nine assists in 72 games last season. He has been a regular presence since joining the Canadiens in an October 2020 trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
