Over the years, Martin St-Louis has seen his group of players take their first steps under his command, then move on to childhood. The Montreal Canadiens head coach noted Monday on the sidelines of the traditional golf tournament at the Laval-sur-le-Lac club that his players were now in their teens.
Without necessarily changing his perspective and focusing on results, St. Louis expects to be more demanding with his players this winter.
“We’re at the stage where we really have to get into the details,” St-Louis said. “You evolve as a team. You want more. The demands of a 10-, 12-, 15-, 16-year-old versus a 6-, 7-year-old are not the same. You expect more.”
“That’s what leading a team is all about. It’s not about being impatient or harsh, it’s about being fair and calculating.”
While Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has been active this offseason, the core of the team remains the same as last season, when the Habs finished 28th overall in the National Hockey League (NHL) standings for the second straight season. Both St. Louis and the players believe that continuity is important to the team’s progress.
“We’re going into the season already knowing the systems, the expectations of us and what we need to do on the ice,” captain Nick Suzuki said. “It’s a lot easier for us and the coaches when we have that foundation already in place. It’s going to make the transition to the start of the season very easy and we should get off to a good start.”
St-Louis also reminded that the progression of a group is never linear. He expects to experience ups and downs again during the campaign.
Consistency remains the most difficult aspect to develop in a rebuilding group. However, defenseman Mike Matheson believes the Canadiens have a group of players who are safe from a teenage crisis and who will one day reach their full potential.
“Everybody in the locker room loves hockey,” said the 30-year-old Quebecer. “These aren’t guys who play hockey just because it’s something they’re good at. These are guys who love watching hockey, following what’s going on around the league, who are real hockey fans.”
“This passion is also seen in the way everyone works off the ice, on the ice, during training. So it’s natural to believe that it will work.”
Patrik Laine as a reward
In his end-of-season review, Hughes said he wanted to add some punch to the attack to reward his group, which has worked hard despite the difficult results obtained since the start of the reconstruction.
The players had to be patient, but they finally got that reward in August, when Hughes acquired forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an award, but it’s exciting to get a player of his caliber,” Suzuki said. “He’s got a great track record and he knows how to score goals.”
“We weren’t very active during the summer, but adding a player like him gives us momentum for the start of camp,” he added.
Laine said he was happy to have a fresh start with the Canadiens after a difficult stint with the Blue Jackets, marked by a stint in the NHL’s player assistance program and its players’ association last winter. The 26-year-old Finn has regained his mental health and said he is happy to be back with the Canadiens.
“My priorities are to stay healthy and have fun. When you do that, the chances are good that you’ll be successful.”
“I don’t think there’s a better market in hockey,” he added. “I’m really happy to be able to play here and finally have the support of the fans! It’s not always easy when you play for the visiting team. But now I’m really happy to play for one of the greatest hockey teams and in front of the best fans in the world.”
With the Habs, Laine will be reunited with his compatriot Joel Armia, who he worked alongside when he arrived in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. The two arrived together at the Laval-sur-le-Lac golf club on Monday, since Laine has not yet purchased a car since arriving in Montreal.
“He [Armia] told me he wanted to stay here forever, and that’s what most people I talked to said,” Laine said. “I’ve only been here a few weeks, and I understand why. It’s really like a family, from top to bottom of the organization. Everyone is involved and part of the process. So I’m happy to be here and be a part of it, too.”
Laine will need to quickly integrate St. Louis’ concepts if he wants to flourish under the Hockey Hall of Famer’s guidance. St. Louis said he hopes to see the sniper enjoy going to the rink and working with the rest of the group. That message seems consistent with the player’s desires, who will need to be as passionate as his teammates to become a key part of his new team.
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