Canadiens Extend Head Coach St. Louis's Contract After Strong Season
Montreal Canadiens have signed head coach Martin St. Louis to a new multi-year contract following a successful season that saw the team reach the Eastern Conference final.
The Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) have extended the contract of head coach Martin St. Louis. According to the club's announcement, the new deal covers multiple years.
St. Louis has led the Canadiens since 2022. Under his guidance, the team reached the Stanley Cup playoffs last season for the first time since 2021 and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference final. There, Montreal lost the series 1-4 to the Carolina Hurricanes, who went on to become that season's champions. Following this run, St. Louis was nominated in 2025 for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the league's top coach.
Path to Coaching
Before joining the Canadiens, the 51-year-old St. Louis had never previously served as a head coach. During the 2018-2019 season, he worked as a consultant with the Columbus Blue Jackets' coaching staff.
Playing Career
As a forward, St. Louis played 16 NHL seasons from 1998 to 2015, representing the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Calgary Flames. He appeared in 1,134 regular-season games and recorded 1,033 points (391 goals and 642 assists). In 2004, he won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning and was also named the league's most valuable player and top scorer for that season. St. Louis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
