Martin St-Louis rises to No. 7 in NHL coach rankings after Canadiens surge

Montreal Canadiens posted 48 wins in the 2025-26 season, up from 30 wins in 2023-24 under coach Martin St-Louis.

Player trust fuels steady climb

St-Louis accumulated 1,134 regular-season games as an NHL player before transitioning behind the bench. The Canadiens improved from 30 wins in 2023-24 to 40 wins in 2024-25 and then 48 wins in 2025-26, producing a 30-point swing in the Atlantic Division standings over three seasons.

Players have repeatedly cited St-Louis for maintaining empathy that differs from most NHL coaches, creating a bond that survived the pressure of a deep playoff run. This trust contrasted with the typical turnover cycle where coaches lose the room within two seasons.

St-Louis finished fifth in Jack Adams Award voting after the 48-win campaign, a direct result of the measurable on-ice improvement rather than external roster additions. Kent Hughes made no material lineup changes entering 2025-26, forcing reliance on internal development.

The 365 regular-season games St-Louis has coached with Montreal now stand as the measurable foundation for any future builder legacy. His early results already place him ahead of many peers who required multiple roster overhauls to reach similar win totals.

Ranking context and forward pressure

The Hockey News placed St-Louis at No. 7 among all 32 NHL head coaches based on expectations met, reputation built, and short-term impact delivered. This ranking sits above coaches with longer tenures who posted fewer incremental gains.

St-Louis reached the Eastern Conference final in 2025-26, a step that separated his group from the prior 30-win baseline. The same young core that produced 40 wins the previous year added eight more victories without external UFA or trade acquisitions.

Montreal’s prospect pool remains stocked, removing any immediate need for external roster surgery according to Hughes. Internal development therefore becomes the sole causal mechanism for further progress.

St-Louis already holds Hall of Fame status as a player from his 1,134-game career. Any additional induction would require a Stanley Cup, a threshold the current 48-win roster has yet to clear.

Championship bar still ahead

St-Louis places the same pressure on himself that the players feel to reach the top of the mountain. That self-imposed standard has already lifted the franchise 18 wins above the 2023-24 mark.

The next measurable test arrives in 2026-27 when the same core must exceed one Eastern Conference final appearance. Without roster turnover, any regression would fall directly on coaching execution.

St-Louis has positioned the group for success; the players must now convert that positioning into additional series victories. His No. 7 ranking reflects current results, not future ones.