JUST IN: Canadiens Veteran’s Hint on True Reason Behind Coach’s Indefinite Absence
Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis has come back to the team after a brief absence to be with his family. He is set to lead the team in their upcoming game against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, March 26. The Canadiens made a formal announcement on their website ahead of the game.
“Everyone in the Canadiens’ team has offered tremendous support to my wife, Heather, and me as we dedicated our attention to our son Mason’s recuperation from a hockey injury,” St-Louis stated in the Canadiens’ statement.
“As parents, our top priority is the well-being of our three sons, Ryan, Lucas, and Mason,” the coach added.
St-Louis returns to a Canadiens team that has the sixth-lowest standing in the NHL after playing 70 games, with 64 points comprising 26 wins, 32 losses, and 12 overtime losses, resulting in a meager .457 points percentage.
Following Martin St-Louis’ Departure
In the absence of Martin St-Louis, the Canadiens appointed Assistant Coach Trevor Letowski as the interim head coach to assume the coaching responsibilities. During this brief period without St-Louis, the team managed a 1-2-1 record.
When the franchise announced St-Louis’ temporary departure, the exact reason was not explicitly stated. However, there were speculations that it might be related to the health of one of his three sons, particularly his 16-year-old son, Mason.
In an interview with TVA Sports (via @ChrisHabs360), veteran Canadiens defenseman David Savard unintentionally revealed that the team played the first game without St-Louis on the sideline with extra motivation, aiming to secure a victory for St-Louis’ son.
"We're going to try to get a win for his son"- David Savard told TVA Sports during first intermission interview. #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey @RocketSports pic.twitter.com/PekTeqtDfw
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) March 17, 2024
It appears that the details were accurate and verified by both the franchise and the head coach in the official statement they issued on Tuesday.
St. Louis departed from Montreal to be by Mason’s side, who sustained an injury during a youth hockey match and was later hospitalized due to complications arising from the injury.
The statement indicated, “Mason experienced complications from the injury and was admitted to the hospital. Fortunately, his condition has now stabilized, and he is currently recuperating at the family residence in Connecticut.”
Hall of Famer St-Louis, a recipient of the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup
has faced his share of personal and professional challenges. Tragically, during the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs while playing for the New York Rangers, he lost his mother, France. The Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final that year but were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings, marking two decades since the Rangers last claimed the Cup.
At the age of 48, St-Louis assumed the interim coaching position for the Canadiens after Dominique Ducharme’s dismissal in February 2022. His interim role turned permanent in June 2022 when he signed a three-year contract with the Habs.
Throughout his NHL career, St-Louis collected an impressive 1,033 points in 1,134 regular-season games with the Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Rangers, averaging 0.91 points per game.
St-Louis achieved the pinnacle of success in 2004 by winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and securing the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP that same season. In 2018, three years after retiring, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Before retiring, he played for the New York Rangers and also had a stint with Lausanne HC in Switzerland.
