The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they will be keeping coach Martin St. Louis on board for the next three seasons after exercising the two-year option on his contract. St. Louis was initially hired on an interim basis in February 2022 following the dismissal of Dominique Ducharme.
The 48-year-old Canadian was named head coach at the end of that season, marking his first role behind an NHL bench. Throughout his tenure, St. Louis has achieved a 75-100-26 record as coach as the Canadiens undergo a rebuilding phase.
The team has been struggling in recent years, missing the playoffs for the last three seasons and finishing last in the Atlantic Division with a 30-36-16 record this season. Despite these challenges, the organization has decided to show their commitment to St. Louis by extending his contract.
St. Louis, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, has a decorated career that includes winning a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and a Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in the same year. He retired in 2015 with an impressive 1,033 points to his name.