The roar of the Bell Centre crowd is deafening, but at ice level, something else hangs thick in the air—a tension you can almost taste. Behind the Canadiens bench, Martin St-Louis stands with arms crossed, his eyes flickering between the scoreboard and the veterans he’s trusted for so long. The bright lights, the banners, and the history of Montreal hockey loom over every decision, every shift, and every mistake.

Last night, as the final horn sounded and the scoreboard told a familiar story of defeat, a subtle shift rippled through the organization. It wasn’t just another loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning; it was a turning point, a moment when the weight of expectations collided with the harsh reality of the present. The whispers in the stands grew a little louder. The glances in the locker room lingered a little longer. And somewhere in the city, fans who had once believed in the unshakeable core of this team began to wonder if change was not only inevitable, but already underway.

Minutes after the game, the Canadiens’ brass made a move that sent shockwaves down the corridors of the Bell Centre and beyond. Three promising young players—Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, and Jacob Fowler—were called up from the Laval Rocket. The message was clear, but the full story was anything but simple. What exactly was happening behind closed doors? Why now? And what did it mean for the veterans whose names have long been synonymous with the pride and tradition of Montreal hockey?

As the team clings to a respectable record and fights for relevance in the fiercely competitive Atlantic Division, a single question looms larger with each passing game: How long can the old guard hold back the tide of change? For every moment of brilliance from the young guns, there’s a corresponding shadow cast by the struggles of established stars. The numbers are there for anyone willing to look—plus-minus ratings that dip into the red, minutes played that seem increasingly out of sync with on-ice performance, and a mounting sense that the balance of power is shifting, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

In the heart of the city, where hockey is more than just a game, the fate of the Canadiens is being decided not just on the scoreboard, but in the subtle, often invisible battles for ice time, trust, and the future of the franchise. The veterans, once untouchable, now find themselves under a microscope, their every shift analyzed, their every mistake magnified. Meanwhile, the new generation waits in the wings, hungry, energetic, and ready to seize any opportunity that comes their way.

What happens next could define not just a season, but an era. The answers aren’t obvious, and the stakes have never been higher. Behind the bench, Martin St-Louis faces the kind of dilemma that can make or break a legacy. And somewhere in the swirling noise and expectation, the next chapter of Canadiens history is about to be written—one decision at a time.

Photo of Martin St-Louis behind Canadiens bench

Photo credit: NHL

It’s becoming heavy for certain Montreal Canadiens veterans this season.

Following another heavy defeat last night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kent Hughes decided to call-up Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom and Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket.

The club now shows a record of 15-11-3 for 33 points and is still fighting for a solid spot in the Atlantic, but the numbers of a few veterans raise eyebrows.

Jake Evans, Josh Anderson, and Alexandre Carrier are all experiencing a rough season in terms of plus-minus.

Evans has 4 goals, 4 assists, and a -16 differential in 29 games. Anderson and Carrier each have 8 points, with a differential of -12 after 29 games. For players who still play between 15 and 19 minutes per game, it’s starting to feel like a significant weight on the payroll and on the scoresheet.

A comment circulating recently summarizes well the discomfort among many fans: “the veterans are sinking this team,” and Martin St-Louis continues to use them as if they were untouchable, while the third and fourth lines clearly need fresh blood.

Martin St-Louis facing his veterans

Meanwhile, the young players are bringing energy and important points. Just think of the game against Vancouver, where Ivan Demidov collected a goal and two assists and Juraj Slafkovsky a goal and an assist to turn the tide and deliver a 4-3 win for the Canadiens.

Evans hovers around 15 minutes a night, often on the penalty kill. Anderson also sits near 15 minutes on the right wing, while Carrier flirts with 19 minutes per game as a pillar of the Canadiens’ defensive group. This ice time reflects the head coach’s confidence, but it also puts a big spotlight on their statistics.

When three key veterans end up in the negative far too often, the perception quickly becomes that they are the ones dragging the group down, no matter all the work they do away from the puck.

The question, therefore, is not about blaming them, but about how long the Canadiens can continue like this. With significant contracts, a very real playoff push, and young players pressing upward, sooner or later someone will have to adjust the roles.