Getting back to basics with Martin St-Louis

MONTREAL -- Martin St-Louis doesn't have all the answers.

At least not yet.
As a newcomer to head coaching in the NHL, St-Louis will be in a perfect position to learn and grow alongside his players, with the goal of forming a cohesive unit that embodies the idea of teamwork.
But there's one thing, in particular, St-Louis understood right off the bat.
The key to building a winning culture is having fun while putting the team first in every situation.
And given St-Louis has won almost every single individual and team award under the sun, it's clearly a message that Canadiens players are eager to endorse, particularly the younger players who will play a crucial role in the organization for the foreseeable future.
"As a group, we've all bought in," said Ryan Poehling. "We all want to get better, and we know we can do better. [St-Louis] hasn't been here very long and all the guys have already bought in. It's been a lot more fun, and I think the process will keep getting more fun."
Poehling is one, among many, young players that have enjoyed an uptick in results since St-Louis was handed the reins.
Not only is he currently third among all Canadiens players with 2.5 points per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time, but he's also increased his shot share from a paltry 43.5 percent, all the way to 52.5 percent, which is the difference between a below-replacement level player, and a player that makes a significant positive impact in the NHL.
The best way to ensure players continue to enjoy themselves, especially throughout transitional seasons which tend to feature their fair share of losses, is by allowing them to rely on their natural instincts, the same hockey sense that led them to the best hockey league in the world in the first place.

That's not to say St-Louis' approach will be the hockey equivalent to the wild west, but there's also no need to reinvent the wheel in this particular situation.
Players make the NHL because they're skilled. Focusing on that skill will lead to not only better results on the ice, but healthier mindsets for every player.
"With systems, I feel like players are placed in a box, to be in a certain spot and sometimes you don't allow them to make reads because of it," said St-Louis. "So, I want to make sure that I allow my best players to make reads and I rather they make a bad one than not make a read at all. It's just a little more freedom."
For a player like Cole Caufield, for example, the freedom to rely on his elite-goal scoring ability - and the freedom to worry less about minor mistakes - won't just yield better results on the ice. It'll lead to a significant uptick in confidence, a sense of belonging that's crucial to any young player in the League.
Caufield is a perfect case study in managing young players. Not only has he produced 4.0 points per 60 since St-Louis became head coach, up from 0.85 points per 60 in the previous 30 games, but he's also displaying some fantastic underlying numbers.
In fact, he isn't just leading all Canadiens players in scoring since the coaching change, he's also second among Habs forwards in shot share, with 55.4 percent CF%, as well as the clear-cut leader in expected goal share, with a stellar 61.9 percent xGF%, suggesting his results aren't just a flash in the pan, they're sustainable.
"Everyone is excited, I'm really excited. I grew up wearing No. 26 because of him. Every time he speaks I just want to listen, soak it all in. I'm going to learn a lot from him, I'm really excited to see what we can do, and have fun along the way. He just wants me to keep playing the right way and keep competing. Fun should come after that. I think he's going to be very good for our team."

There's that word again.
Fun.
But the fun only comes once you reciprocate the confidence instilled by the coach.
"As a coach, when you have an offensive player like Caufield, they need to meet you halfway," said St-Louis. "If your coach gives you some leeway, you have to give him something in return. In Cole's case, I ask him to be responsible defensively. I love offensive hockey, but sometimes the play dictates your action, and if there's no scoring opportunity, you must take care of the team."
Ask any player who has enjoyed success in the NHL, and you'll hear the same story; they fell in love with the game when they were young because playing on local ponds and rinks was fun.
That's exactly what St-Louis is tapping into: the players' love for the game.
"All the new philosophies have been pretty good so far," said Nick Suzuki. "We're doing a better job of not getting too down on ourselves. The lines are coming back strong."
The smiles are coming back strong, too.

Of course, there's more to the process than just fun. The Canadiens will need to be faster, stronger, and not to mention more engaged in the play.
The effort level will have to mirror the type of work ethic St-Louis displayed on a nightly basis throughout his glorious NHL career.
Thankfully, when you own a Stanley Cup ring, an Olympic gold medal, and a Hockey Hall of Fame blazer, the message tends to get through a little more quickly.
"There are certain non-negotiables at the arena; work ethic and a good attitude," said St-Louis. "Players have to put the team first all the time. They all have their own goals, their own expectations, but it's about having a team-first mentality. If the vast majority of players maintain that attitude, usually, you'll have a healthy locker room."
There's a certain level of unwavering respect that comes with winning two Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Trophy and a Lester B. Pearson Trophy.
And it's not just because St-Louis adorned his trophy case with these impressive achievements, but rather the manner in which he won them; by overcoming a litany of challenges and naysayers throughout his career.
"Growing up, you watch a guy like that, and you just respect him because, from the game standpoint, as a player, he was unreal, he's a legend," said Poehling. "The biggest thing with Marty is work hard, be on top of guys, and think the game fast. When you do that, you don't overthink things, and you just play the game. It seems to work out for me."

Regardless of the results, which are improving daily, there's a sense of renewal blossoming throughout the organization.
Young players and veterans alike are gravitating towards a coach who doesn't just have an eternal desire to win, he has a desire to win by allowing his players to be their best selves.
Much like Caufield and Poehling, Jeff Petry's numbers have returned to a level we're accustomed to, including increases in shot share, expected goals, and outright points.
The same can be said for Suzuki, who has enjoyed a significant increase in shot share, going from 46.5 percent all the way to 54.5 percent.
The experiment can be repeated for the vast majority of the players on the roster.
Simply put, everyone has been better, and the concepts put in place by St-Louis has allowed them to re-ignite their love of the game.
There's still a lot of work to do, but the first step in any long-term project is establishing a lasting relationship with co-workers that will lead to a positive workplace environment.
Given the first-hand impressions from the players directly involved in the project at hand, there's little doubt that St-Louis has the tools and mindset to ensure things move in the right direction.
And like any good road trip, the most enjoyable way to reach your destination is to make sure you have fun.
All statistics are 5-on-5 unless otherwise specified, via naturalstattrick.com