Geoff Molson isn’t hiding where he wants this to go with Martin St-Louis.
Speaking in an interview with RDS, the Canadiens owner made it plain that keeping the coach in Montreal is part of the organization’s plan, even with St-Louis heading into the final year of his contract.
“He has one year left on his contract. He's a coach we like a lot, and keeping him with us long term is part of the plan.”
Molson also had a calm read on two other important contract situations as training camp draws closer. Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc are still unsigned, but the Canadiens owner said he expects those matters to work themselves out.
“We're always eager to see situations involving important players get resolved.
And I have no doubt it will get done, but am I worried? No.”
There’s also been plenty of movement among the players themselves this summer. Ivan Demidov played a big part in getting the group together for workouts in Brossard, while Nick Suzuki has long been the central figure in that role.
Molson had strong words for his captain, who is coming off his first 100-point season.
“He's a natural leader, a natural captain.
He's respectful and he works hard on the ice.
He's also an excellent player and a complete player.”
Molson said he was pleased with the Canadiens’ spring run, one that featured memorable Game 7s and overtime battles in the playoffs. He also pointed to the volume of draft work done since Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes arrived, noting that 47 selections have been made - a number that figures to make the battle for roster spots even tighter when camp opens.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face One Big Line Decision Before Camp Ends
Training camp has given the Canadiens plenty to sort through, but the biggest question still sitting in front of the coaching staff is how to arrange the top of the forward group. Montreal is weighing whether to keep the familiar Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield-Juraj Slafkovsky trio intact or use camp and preseason to reshape the first two lines in a way that creates more balance and better overall depth.
The ripple effect could be significant, because any move at the top changes everything below it. Montreal has looked at players such as Zachary Bolduc and Alexander Texier as possible answers on the wing, while the middle of the lineup is also under review as the club searches for the best fit to run the second line alongside Ivan Demidov. With camp winding down, the Canadiens still have one of the more interesting lineup decisions in front of them before the season opens. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Will Love Where Suzuki Stands Among NHL Centers
Nick Suzukis rise has become one of the steadier storylines in Montreal, and NHL Networks latest center rankings only reinforced how far he has come. The Canadiens captain landed inside the leagues top tier at his position, a nod that matches the way he has grown into both a reliable two-way center and the face of the teams leadership group.
Suzukis standing also fits into a broader sign of progress for Montreal, with several other Canadiens showing up in NHL Networks positional rankings as well. It is the kind of recognition that matters for a rebuilding club, because it suggests the core is not just developing, but earning respect across the league in more than one part of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Slafkovsky And Demidov May Have Changed Montreals Top-Six Plan
Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov gave the Canadiens a glimpse of what their next wave could look like when they were paired on the second line against the Colorado Avalanche in 2025. The fit was noticeable right away, with Slafkovsky and Demidov showing a level of chemistry that made the line more than just a temporary experiment and gave Montreal something to think about as it continues shaping its forward group.
A specific sequence between Slafkovsky and Demidov stood out enough to underline how dangerous that pairing can be when it clicks, and it may have done more than just help one game along. It also feeds into the bigger question facing Montreals top six, because the club is still weighing how to line up its best pieces and whether another impact forward would better complement Demidov or slide into the mix alongside Nick Suzuki. [Read more 🡒]