Fans in Montreal are rejoicing today following a gritty, improbable Game 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a nail-biting affair where the Canadiens made history, becoming the first team since 1960 to win a playoff game with fewer than ten shots on goal. Montreal scored twice on just nine shots, while rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš stood on his head, making 28 saves on 29 shots to secure the series.
With the New York Rangers on the outside looking in, waiting on the bounce of lottery balls, this Montreal resurgence leaves fans wondering, what if the timing had been different years ago for Martin St. Louis?
The Hartford blueprint that never was
The Rangers had serious interest in keeping St. Louis in the fold immediately following his retirement in 2015. The Blueshirts reportedly wanted St. Louis to become the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack. At the time, the timing didn't align for St. Louis and his family, as he chose to focus on coaching his sons in Connecticut. One can only wonder... had he taken that job, would he have eventually moved up to lead the varsity squad at Madison Square Garden?
The Rangers' early interest was justified. St. Louis had an immense impact on the franchise in a very short window. After joining the club at the 2014 trade deadline, he famously rallied the team following the passing of his mother, France. His opening goal on Mother’s Day in Game 6 against Pittsburgh continued a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, and his overtime winner in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals remains a legendary Garden moment.
He was an established pro who played the game the right way, and the Rangers recognized his coaching ceiling long before Montreal did.
The butterfly effect on Broadway
Had St. Louis been in the organization’s coaching pipeline, he would have been the logical candidate to replace Alain Vigneault in 2018. Instead, that job went to David Quinn, followed by Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette, and eventually Mike Sullivan.
There is no telling what kind of coach St. Louis would have been for the Blueshirts, but his success in Montreal suggests he has a rare gift for reframing development for young stars. While his absence in Hartford eventually opened the door for Kris Knoblauch, that era was cut short when the Edmonton Oilers came calling.
As the Rangers now look to fill their most recent opening in Hartford following the firing of Grant Potulny, the organization must do its due diligence. History has shown that an AHL coaching hire isn't just about the farm team... it can create a butterfly effect that alters the course of the entire franchise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google