St. Louis Erases Recent Doubt On Coaching Future With Canadiens

If you take Martin St. Louis at his word, and he’s given nobody any reason not to, then the hall of fame player and Stanley Cup champion will be the official head coach of the Montreal Canadiens next season.

Following his team’s optional skate ahead of their tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, St. Louis made it crystal clear that he would indeed welcome becoming the official head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after this season concludes on April 29. Last week, two national reports regarding the coaching future for Martin St. Louis cast a bit of doubt on whether St. Louis would return to coach the Habs or if he would prefer to spend more time with his family.

“I don’t think so,” St. Louis told the media when asked if there were any situations that could make not accept the job as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. “I was brought in here to finish the season, so I’m going to focus on that. Is my goal to be back next year? Yeah, absolutely. I don’t see many things why I wouldn’t be back, but you never know. But if I’m visualizing myself six, seven months from now, I see myself behind the bench. Until everything is concrete and stuff I’m going to stay the course of what I’m doing.”

St. Louis did however maintain his and the stance of general manager Kent Hughes that talks on shedding the interim tag and a new contract for St. Louis would be tabled until the season concludes on April 29.

“After the season,” he said bluntly.

For now, St. Louis is focused on rebuilding the culture of the Montreal Canadiens and developing their up-and-coming youth.

“Our goal’s going to stay the same,” said St. Louis who is 12-12-4 record since taking over over from Dominique Ducharme on Feb. 9. “It’s to keep evolving as a team. Keep building our brand, our game and do some individual coaching along the way and just try every game to be one step closer to what’s next for us. And what’s next for us is training camp next year.”