Martin St. Louis Sparks Canadiens' Cole Caufield

New Canadiens coach has revitalized young star player's performance.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 2:31pm

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When Martin St. Louis took over as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, one of his first actions was to sit down and have a conversation with young star player Cole Caufield. This personal touch from the new coach has helped ignite Caufield's game, as evidenced by his recent goal-scoring surge.

Why it matters

Caufield is considered a key part of the Canadiens' future, so St. Louis' ability to connect with and motivate the young player could have a significant impact on the team's fortunes going forward. The Canadiens have struggled in recent seasons, so a revitalized Caufield could help turn the team around.

The details

After St. Louis became head coach, he made a point to have a one-on-one discussion with Caufield. This personal approach seems to have paid dividends, as Caufield has found his scoring touch, including a memorable goal off the glass that went in against Washington.

  • Martin St. Louis took over as Canadiens head coach in early 2026.
  • Caufield scored a goal off the glass against Washington shortly after St. Louis became coach.

The players

Martin St. Louis

The new head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, known for his successful NHL playing career and ability to connect with young players.

Cole Caufield

A young star player for the Montreal Canadiens, considered a key part of the team's future.

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What they’re saying

“That first goal I remember it in Washington (with St. Louis as head coach), it was off the glass, came back and I think I saw it went in and I was like, there's no way based on how it's going,”

— Cole Caufield (Toronto Sun)

The takeaway

St. Louis' personal approach with Caufield appears to have reignited the young player's game, providing hope for the Canadiens' future and demonstrating the value of a coach's ability to connect with and motivate their players.