BREAKING: Martin St-Louis to handle the power play as He wouldn’t return to the bench

Earlier this summer, when the Habs announced that He wouldn’t return to the bench, the question arose about who would take his place.

The bigger question was whether the team would replace the man who notably managed the power play for Montreal.

Now we have more clarity. While it wasn’t initially confirmed, we’ve learned, following the golf tournament, that Martin St-Louis will be responsible for the power play this season.

#Habs Martin St-Louis says he will take over the powerplay duties with Alex Burrows moving on from the coaching staff.

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) September 16, 2024

Why St-Louis? As one of the NHL’s great power play specialists during his career, he brings creativity to the ice. With 1033 points in 1134 games, he knows what it takes to be successful offensively in the NHL, and with the talent he’ll have at his disposal, he’s bound to enjoy the challenge.

Coache's Video: Transition Practice vs Game?

Hey @MA_PerreaultTVA, le crédit te reviens pour le vidéo. Martin St-Louis qui travaille avec Caufield en pratique (9 Mars) sur le one-timer et le 5 Avril, Cole Caufield qui fait le même move. #GoHabsGo#HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/ZMikW69QIR

— Mitch Giguere (@Mitch_Giguere) April 6, 2022

We’ve already seen him offer advice to Cole Caufield, and he’ll do the same with the rest of the team.

Looking at the Habs’ current lineup and St-Louis’ credentials, there’s reason for optimism. The team should have the tools to be a serious threat on the power play, which will be crucial for their chances of winning.

Scoring more goals is key to the Habs elevating their game, and that starts with an effective power play.

#Habs GM Kent Hughes says Roger Grillo will not be behind the #GoHabsGo bench during the games – head coach Martin St-Louis will touch on Roger's role more when he speaks to the media shortly.

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) September 16, 2024

Last season, Montreal ranked 27th in the NHL for power play efficiency (17.5%), which isn’t good enough.

There’s no question about it.

Lastly, it remains to be seen if the Habs’ new hire, Roger Grillo, will influence the decisions Martin St-Louis makes.

While Grillo won’t be on the bench during games, there’s still the possibility that he and St-Louis could collaborate on strategies throughout the season.

Extension

This week, we got a preview of the initial power play unit, featuring Mike Matheson, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield, working alongside Adam Nicholas. Is this lineup already finalized for the season opener?