When Martin St. Louis took the reins behind the Canadiens’ bench for the first time on February 10, 2022, the team’s blue line looked very different. That night’s defensive corps-Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak, Alexander Romanov, Chris Wideman, and Kale Clague-reflected where the franchise was at the time: in transition, searching for identity.
Fast forward to today, and not one of those six remains in Montreal. The transformation of the Canadiens’ defense under St.
Louis, with the guidance of president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes, has been nothing short of dramatic. Over the course of a four-year rebuild, the organization has reshaped its back end to fit the style St.
Louis wants to play-fast, aggressive, and always looking to push the pace.
The blueprint is clear: mobile, puck-moving defensemen who can skate, close gaps in the neutral zone, and activate offensively without hesitation. That last part is key.
These defensemen are encouraged to pinch at the offensive blue line, knowing the system is built to support them with forwards rotating back. It’s a modern, high-tempo approach, and this season, we’re seeing the payoff.
Through Monday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota, Montreal’s defensemen have combined for 152 points-second in the NHL behind only the Colorado Avalanche, who sit at 162. That’s not just a stat; it’s a reflection of a philosophical shift that’s taken root and is now bearing fruit.
To put that into context, when St. Louis took over for Dominique Ducharme, the Canadiens were near the bottom of the league in scoring-27th, averaging just 2.66 goals per game.
This season, they’re up to fourth, pumping in 3.43 goals per game. That’s a massive leap, and a big reason for it is the production coming from the back end.
Leading the charge is Lane Hutson, who’s proving last season’s Calder Trophy win was no fluke. With 9 goals and 48 assists for 57 points, Hutson is currently third among NHL defensemen in scoring, trailing only Zach Werenski (60 points) and Evan Bouchard (also 60).
He’s even nudged ahead of Cale Makar, who sits at 56. Hutson’s blend of vision, skating, and offensive instincts makes him a constant threat, and his chemistry with the Canadiens’ young core is starting to look like something special.
Just take a look at his setup on Ivan Demidov’s recent goal-a crisp, confident feed that showcased his poise and creativity. Plays like that are becoming routine for Hutson, and that’s a good problem for opponents.
But it’s not just Hutson. Noah Dobson has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Habs, tallying 10 goals and 26 assists.
His 10 goals already match his totals from each of the last two seasons with the Islanders, and he’s brought a steady two-way presence to the lineup. Meanwhile, Alexandre Carrier is enjoying a scoring surge of his own, with five of his six goals this season coming in the last 11 games.
That’s already a career high, surpassing the four he scored with Nashville in 2023-24.
Then there’s Mike Matheson, the veteran who’s quietly become the glue of this blue line. Acquired from Pittsburgh in July 2022, Matheson’s role has evolved with the team’s needs.
Two seasons ago, he was the offensive catalyst on a team that struggled to score, posting 11 goals and 51 assists for 62 points while quarterbacking the power play. That came with a minus-24 rating, a trade-off for the offensive burden he was asked to carry.
But as the roster has matured, so has Matheson’s role. He ceded power-play duties to Hutson last season, embraced a penalty-killing role, and now, with Dobson and a healthy Kaiden Guhle back in the mix, he’s taken on shutdown responsibilities.
Even so, he’s still producing-5 goals, 23 assists, and a plus-12 rating this season at age 31. That kind of adaptability and leadership is invaluable in a room full of rising talent.
The Canadiens’ blue line today is a far cry from what it was four years ago. It’s younger, faster, and far more dynamic.
And most importantly, it’s built in the image of the coach behind the bench. Martin St.
Louis wanted defensemen who could skate, think the game, and play with purpose. Thanks to a front office that shares that vision, he’s got them-and the results are speaking for themselves.