“How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace…”
Those words, etched into music history by Phil Collins, could just as easily have been whispered by opposing teams last spring as they dusted off the Canadiens and sent them into another offseason of soul-searching. Montreal finished fifth-last in the NHL in 2023-24, their third straight season outside the playoff picture. The rebuild was still in motion. The doubters were loud. The believers? Scarce.
But in a story worthy of its own soundtrack, the 2024-25 Canadiens have flipped the script — and they’re doing it against all odds.
A Quiet Confidence from the Top
During training camp, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton weren’t making bold predictions. They weren’t promising playoff runs or parade routes. They simply wanted their young team “to be in the mix.” But behind closed doors, there was a quiet belief, a sense that the tide was about to turn — even if most couldn’t see it coming.
Well, take a look at them now.
They were many who claimed that #Habs management was giving fans and media lip service when they talked about being “in the mix” prior to puck drop on the season. Most claimed they would be bottom-5 again.Repent, sinners. #GoHabsGo
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-04-06T02:36:31.645Z
With just five games left in the regular season, the Canadiens sit in a playoff spot, a full six points ahead of the New York Rangers for the final Wild Card berth. The playoff buzz is real, and for the first time in years, meaningful hockey is being played in April at the Bell Centre.
Captain Nick Suzuki has been nothing short of sensational, with 84 points and counting. Not since Alex Kovalev‘s 84-point campaign in 2007-08 has a Habs forward danced this close to the heights of offensive excellence. Calm, calculated, and quietly clutch, Suzuki is leading by example, game in and game out.
Right beside him, Cole Caufield has rediscovered his sniper’s touch. With 36 goals, he’s breathing rare air — the most by a Canadiens player since Max Pacioretty‘s 37 in 2014-15. The small winger with the big shot has found his rhythm, and his timing couldn’t be better.
And then there’s Lane Hutson, the rookie defenseman who seems to float across the ice like a jazz musician improvising a solo. His 64 points have shattered expectations and marked the highest total by a Canadiens rookie defenseman since Chris Chelios racked up 64 of his own back in 1984-85.
Brendan Gallagher, long thought to be past his peak, has staged a spirited return with 20 goals, digging into the corners like it’s 2018 again. And the much-talked-about acquisition of Patrik Laine? Also 20 goals. Two players with something to prove, finding their groove at the right time.
Coach St-Louis: A Masterclass in Belief
At the heart of it all is Martin St-Louis, the fiery, philosophical bench boss who preaches creativity and resilience. His fingerprints are all over this turnaround. He’s not just teaching systems — he’s teaching belief. And the hockey world has taken notice. With each passing win, his name climbs higher in Jack Adams Trophy conversations.
St-Louis has turned what if into why not us?
A City Believes Again
In a league of parity and unpredictability, the Canadiens’ journey isn’t just a nice surprise — it’s a defiant stand against expectations. A reminder that growth doesn’t always follow a straight line, and sometimes, the most beautiful stories are the ones that no one saw coming.
“There’s just an empty space…” goes the song. But this spring, that space is filled with hope. With pride. With playoff hockey.
So go ahead…
“Take a look at me now.”
The Montreal Canadiens are back — and they’re not done yet.
