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An assistant coach with more NHL experience could prove invaluable to the struggling Montreal Canadiens, who are currently allowing an alarming average of 4.07 goals per game, the highest in the league.
Author of the article:
Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette
Published Nov 09, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, right, engages in a discussion with assistant coach Trevor Letowski against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal on April 4, 2024. The lack of extensive NHL coaching experience behind Montreal’s bench has become glaringly evident due to a series of defensive zone collapses, as noted by Stu Cowan. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette
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Where is the Canadiens’ defence coach? Have we run out of money?
Joe Bergeron
Stéphane Robidas has been serving as the Canadiens’ defence coach since his hiring two summers ago, brought on to replace Luke Richardson, who took up the head coach position with the Chicago Blackhawks.
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The current coaching staff’s lack of NHL experience has led to noticeable defensive struggles, as evidenced by the Canadiens surrendering an alarming 4.07 goals per game, the worst record in the NHL.
Robidas was brought on board primarily to aid in the development of the team’s young defencemen, which is an important task. However, I have consistently argued since Alex Burrows stepped down as an assistant coach during the off-season that the Canadiens desperately need an additional assistant with a significant amount of NHL coaching experience.
There is no salary cap on coaches, which makes it perplexing why this move has not already been made.
Why does St. Louis have such immunity? Despite holding the worst record of any Habs coach, he remains in charge. Systematic breakdowns persist. Take a look at Boston’s Jim Montgomery or Philadelphia’s John Tortorella; both NHL coaches face tough decisions.
JP Parent
General Manager Kent Hughes exercised the two-year option on St. Louis’s contract at the conclusion of last season, ensuring that he will remain signed through the 2026-27 season at a reported salary of US$3 million per year, as noted by CapFriendly. Hughes and executive vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton maintain a close relationship with St. Louis, believing him to be the ideal coach to spearhead their rebuilding initiative.
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The Canadiens currently feature a young roster with ten players aged 23 or younger, and the emphasis remains on player development. Despite management’s preseason comments about hoping to contend for a playoff position, the loss of star player Patrik Laine to a knee injury has dealt a significant setback.
I believe the players continue to support St. Louis’s philosophy, and his job remains secure this season despite an overall coaching record of 79-108-28. However, it is imperative that he receives additional support behind the bench to address ongoing issues.
Of all the veteran players nearing the end of their contracts, who do you think might get re-signed?
Mike Chow
With David Savard, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, and Michael Pezzetta all poised to become unrestricted free agents next summer, the only player I see likely to be re-signed is Evans. He has emerged as one of the Canadiens’ standout players during the final year of his contract, which carries a US$1.7 million salary-cap hit. At just 28 years of age, Evans has proven to be a reliable fourth-line centre, valued for his faceoff skills and penalty-killing ability. He enjoys playing in Montreal and is respected by his teammates.
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In recent games, Evans has been elevated to the position of second-line centre, highlighting the team’s struggles with depth in that role—especially as Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook have been shifted to wing positions.
Why do college hockey players wear full facemasks while professionals do not?
Richard Bonte
In the NCAA, full facemasks are mandatory for all players. Interestingly, every NHL player donned a full facemask from their initiation in hockey until they reached junior or AHL levels, where only a half-visor is required. The question remains whether an NHL player will ever choose to keep a full facemask; however, such a scenario seems unlikely.
Within the realm of professional hockey, peer pressure plays a significant role, as wearing full protective gear is often viewed as a sign of being “soft.” Players who chose to wear helmets were once regarded similarly, as were those who opted for visors; the trend continues with full facemasks.
In 1979, helmets were made mandatory by the NHL, followed by visors in 2013. Currently, only five NHL players forgo any form of facial protection: Dallas’s Jamie Benn, Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly, Toronto’s Ryan Reaves, the New York Islanders’ Matt Martin, and Minnesota’s Zach Bogosian.
If you have a question you’d like to ask for our weekly Habs Mailbag, you can email it to montrealcanadiens@postmedia.com
scowan@postmedia.com
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