Earlier this week, the Canadiens appointed Pascal Vincent as the coach for their Laval affiliate. Vincent, who was recently let go by Columbus, is stepping into this role.
Vincent brings a solid track record, particularly in developing players for the NHL. The Canadiens chose an experienced coach, filling a gap in their organization since they previously lacked seasoned leadership. While Trevor Letowski filled in for a few games last year during Martin St-Louis’s absence, the rest of the coaching staff has been relatively inexperienced.
This addition addresses a key need, as there were few internal candidates ready to step up if St-Louis were to leave. Thus, Stu Cowan’s observation that Vincent’s hiring also serves as a safeguard for St-Louis is quite accurate.
In Montreal, there’s no current concern about the stability of Habs coach Martin St-Louis. The team has recently committed to him for the next three years, and he is clearly valued by management.
However, coaching changes in the NHL can happen swiftly. Despite being in his role for just under 30 months, St-Louis is the fifth longest-serving coach in the league. Only Jon Cooper, Mike Sullivan, Jared Bednar, and Rod Brind’Amour have been with their teams longer.
Even if the 2024-25 season proves challenging, it would be surprising to see St-Louis’s position threatened. However, if the team is expected to make a significant improvement the following season and falls short, having an internal successor like Pascal Vincent could become a valuable option.
With Vincent now on board, the club has secured a potential future head coach, although he could be considered for other NHL opportunities in the meantime.
Vincent has emphasized that he’s not here to replace St-Louis, and we can take him at his word. However, if the situation were to change and the head coach position became open, Vincent would likely be a strong candidate, particularly if he performs well with Laval in the coming months.
Overtime
– New contract for the Quebecer.
– Nice moment.
– Interesting.
– Big session for the McLaren team.
– Good news.