Canadiens extend Martin St. Louis on multiyear deal after consecutive playoff runs

The Montreal Canadiens signed head coach Martin St. Louis to a multiyear contract extension on Monday, September 14, with the term and salary undisclosed, according to Yahoo Sports and the Associated Press. St. Louis, 51, has guided the Canadiens to consecutive playoff berths, including a trip to last year's Eastern Conference Final, the outlet reported.

St. Louis took the job on an interim basis in February 2022, following the dismissal of Dominique Ducharme. It was his first-ever role behind an NHL bench after previously coaching at the youth level. The interim tag was removed at the end of the 2021-22 season. Entering his sixth season as Canadiens coach, St. Louis carries a record of 163 wins, 155 losses, and 47 overtime or shootout losses, per Yahoo Sports.

The Canadiens were rebuilding when St. Louis arrived. He led them to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season, per Yahoo Sports. At that time, the Canadiens were the youngest team in the league and were eliminated in the first round by the Washington Capitals. Following his turnaround, St. Louis was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2025, according to the outlet.

General manager Kent Hughes stated: "Marty has done a terrific job leading our young team. He is a great communicator and teacher. We look forward to his continued efforts to mold this group into a championship-caliber team," per Yahoo Sports.

St. Louis is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee (2018) who, as a player, totaled 1,033 points before retiring in 2015. In 2003-04, he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as leading scorer with 94 points. He also helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup that same season, according to Yahoo Sports.

The extension arrives after the Canadiens signed forward Chris Kreider on a one-year contract on Saturday, prior to September 14. Kreider and St. Louis played together on the same line more than a decade ago with the New York Rangers. Kreider stated St. Louis was "Super wise, incredibly smart" and that he "hasn't learned more from any one individual than the time spent playing with him on his line," per Yahoo Sports. St. Louis explained the move: "To me it's simple. You look at our club, what do we need? Well, we need probably a little more experience; he checks that box. We need a little more sandpaper, checks that box. Net-front guy, checks that box."