The Canadiens faced additional adversity when they revealed that head coach Martin St. Louis would be taking a leave of absence for personal reasons just before their game against the Flames in Calgary on Saturday night. Assistant coach Trevor Letowski will step in as head coach indefinitely while St. Louis is away. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki commented on St. Louis’s absence after a 5-2 loss to the Flames, noting the team’s solidarity and support for their coach.

With a record of 25-31-11, the Canadiens were in seventh place in the Atlantic Division as they embarked on a five-game road trip starting in Calgary and heading to Edmonton next Tuesday. Suzuki emphasized the need for leadership to fill the void left by St. Louis’s absence, acknowledging the shift in dynamics with coaches and players supporting each other during this challenging time.

St. Louis has led the Canadiens to a 25-30-0-11 record in his third season as head coach, having taken over as interim coach in February 2022 before signing a three-year contract extension in June of that year. A former NHL player with over 1,300 games under his belt, St. Louis won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004 and an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2014 before being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Letowski, who took charge as head coach for the first time in Calgary, has been with the Canadiens coaching staff for three seasons. A former NHL player himself, Letowski emphasized the emotional challenge of stepping into St. Louis’s shoes but stressed the importance of resilience and teamwork in navigating the situation.