NHL Notebook: Canadiens utilize option on head coach Martin St. Louis’ contract and Wild re-sign Marc-Andre Fleury to one-year contract

The Montreal Canadiens, however, are eager to transition out of the rebuild stage. Young players have made significant strides, such as Nick Suzuki, who led the team in all offensive categories with 33 goals and 77 points, and Cole Caufield, who achieved career highs with 28 goals and 65 points.

Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, has also shown promise in his development, scoring 20 goals and 50 points.

When St. Louis joined the Canadiens, his only coaching experience was with his three sons’ team in Connecticut’s Mid-Fairfield Youth Hockey Association.

But he did have some NHL experience, working alongside John Tortorella as a special teams consultant for the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, his knowledge and experience in professional hockey extend far beyond that.

From 1998 to 2015, St. Louis brought an intensity to the NHL, a trait that shines through in his coaching. His career spanned various teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, and New York Rangers; he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Wild re-sign Marc-Andre Fleury to one-year contract

There will be one last dance for Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury after re-signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract, confirming the 2024-25 season will be his last.

Fleury had a record of 17-14-5 this season with a .895 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average. His career total with the Wild expanded to 50-32-9 with a .903 save percentage and 2.89 GAA.

In his 20-year NHL career, Fleury has played for the Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Las Vegas Golden Knights, and Pittsburgh Penguins with 1024 appearances and a record of 561-329-96.

As he approaches his 40th birthday next November, Fleury has ascended to the No.2 spot on the NHL’s all-time wins list, proving his talent and contribution to the sport. With just 21 more games, he could surpass Patrick Roy and Roberto Luongo for second in all-time games played by a goaltender.

Fleury, who has gained the nickname “Flower,” has bloomed since being taken first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft. His career is one like no other; at 37 years old, Fleury had a 26-10-0 record with a .928 save percentage and 1.98 GAA, earning himself his first-ever William M. Jennings Trophy and Vezina Trophy. In addition to Fleury’s awards, he became a three-time Stanley Cup Champion (2009, 2016, and 2017) during his time with the Penguins.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff Live, former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton joined Frank Seravalli to discuss their thoughts about Fleury returning for one final season:

Frank Seravalli: We’ve got some fascinating matchups to get to Carter, but first, wanted to ping you on the news that Marc-Andre Fleury is returning for yet another season. He turns 40 in November. You look at the numbers and you say, ‘Ehhh, save percentage this year, eh, it’s OK,’ but he really carried this Wild team for a big chunk of time with Filip Gustavsson out. You think Flower’s got plenty of game left in the tank?

Carter Hutton: I think so. You know, the way he plays, the way he competes, obviously it’s exciting, too. I think there’s other aspects of his game that he brings to the dressing room. Everybody loves him, there’s that side of him as well. So, at his age, and what he’s able to do — he’s a guy I was always jealous of that played a lot of minutes, and even the way he practices, he always takes good care of himself. It’s not surprising that he can continue playing and I’m obviously excited for him, and I think everyone in Minnesota is as well.

The Wild, who have struggled this season, will play one final game on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. Minnesota has a record of 39-32-10 and is sixth in the Central Division and 10 points behind the second Wild Card team, the Los Angeles Kings.