Livescore
After struggling for much of the season so far, the Montreal Canadiens are thriving at the moment.
The Canadiens won five of their last six games, including victories over the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. That gives Habs fans cause for optimism as the calendar changes to 2025.
That said, the Canadiens will still face struggles in the short term. Although it hurts to hear this now, Montreal will benefit from losing more games than it wins.
Habs GM Kent Hughes knows his team is still in a full rebuild. The Canadiens have two first-round picks, two second-rounders and three third-rounders in 2025. Montreal will want to pick as high in the draft as possible, and you don’t get those optimal results when you’re a mid-tier team. You need to suffer through many losses, grit your teeth and bear it with your organization’s eye not on the present, but on the future.
This is why Hughes and Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis have such a long leash when it comes to shaping Montreal’s roster. The franchise has signed on for a long rebuild to get to the stage where they can be a legitimate Stanley Cup front-runner. They’re obviously not near that point yet, and while it’s great to see glimmers of positivity from the Canadiens to build a winning standard in the future, the short-term focus for long-term success remains the same.
This is also why the Canadiens will likely continue to sell by the NHL’s trade deadline on March 7. They won’t trade away all their meaningful parts, but looming UFAs, including defenseman David Savard and forward Joel Armia, will likely be on the trade block.
Related: Jakub Dobes Becomes Fifth Canadiens Goalie To Earn a Shutout In Their NHL Debut
Not The Time To Change Coaches
There should also really be no debate about St-Louis running the team.
Sure, he needs to deliver wins wherever he can, but St-Louis’ main task is to develop young talent and set the table for better days. A lengthy losing streak will test the resolve of the Canadiens’ roster and management, but that’s part of being a young team.
By that same token, St-Louis shouldn’t be taking his foot off the gas when the Habs are enjoying a winning stretch. He must push his players to rise to their top levels and let management decide who to keep over the long haul and who to move on from.
Firing St-Louis right now or anytime soon would accomplish nothing. He’s doing the best he can with his talent, and you can’t fault him for not being able to make competitive mountains out of molehills. No magician out there could step in and do better than St-Louis has done thus far. He’s worth keeping around and seeing what he can do a year or two from now with a deeper, more talented lineup.
Related: Five NHL Teams That Need A Reset In 2025
It’s certainly heartening for Habs fans to see the puzzle beginning to come together, but patience should still rule the day. They’ll be much better positioned to push up the standings once they claw their way through the next year or two. Maybe the Canadiens can wait until 2026 to land a generational talent, such as Gavin McKenna. That would involve a lot of luck in the draft lottery, but the lower they are in the standings, the better chance they’ll have.
The Canadiens are far from the first team to be put through the wringer for an extended period. St-Louis and the club are figuring out how to balance the short and long term by gaining experience, building skills and gathering young talent. It won’t be quick or easy, but it will be worth it.
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