Canadiens Hire Martin St. Louis as Interim Head Coach
Well, this one's a shocker.
Hours after parting ways with Dominique Ducharme on Wednesday afternoon, the Montreal Canadiens have found his replacement, announcing that Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis has been named the team's interim head coach.
While St. Louis' career as a player speaks for itself, his experience behind the bench is not quite as extensive.
Prior to joining the Canadiens this afternoon, St. Louis had been serving as an assistant coach for the Mid Fairfield Rangers, a AAA team based in the United States with players aged 13 and under.
Still, St. Louis' passion and leadership are renowned throughout hockey circles far and wide, and the Canadiens hope he can inject some of it into a roster that currently sits dead last in the entire NHL with just eight wins on the season.
"We are very happy to welcome Martin to the Canadiens organization," said Canadiens GM Kent Hughes in a statement announcing St. Louis' hiring.
"Not only are we adding an excellent hockey man, but with Martin, we are bringing in a proven winner and a man whose competitive qualities are recognized by all who have crossed his path."
With players openly admitting to not enjoying being at the rink this season following Tuesday night's 7-1 defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, it's hard to imagine things getting worse in Montreal under St. Louis' leadership.
Then again, this Canadiens team has proven that there is no such thing as rock bottom. St. Louis just needs to pull them out of it.
