Is Martin St-Louis following in Mike Vrabel’s footsteps?

A big fan of the New England Patriots, Jeff Gorton is closely following the team's spectacular comeback under Mike Vrabel.

And the more he observes this renaissance in Foxborough, the more the Montreal Canadiens' vice president of hockey operations can't help but see striking similarities with the work accomplished by Martin St-Louis behind the habs bench.

Vrabel, a former star linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, returned to the fold with a solid background as an NFL head coach. For his part, St-Louis was a bold gamble when Gorton and Kent Hughes handed him the reins of the Canadiens, despite his limited experience in minor league hockey. It was a calculated risk that quickly turned into success.

According to Gorton, both coaches share an essential quality: a natural ability to connect with their players. He highlights their contagious energy, their emotional closeness to the locker room, and their human leadership, which goes far beyond tactical schemes. This approach creates a climate of trust where players fully embrace the message.

In the Canadiens' locker room, defenseman Jayden Struble, a die-hard Patriots fan since his childhood near Gillette Stadium, also observes these similarities. He notes that Vrabel's passion is directly reflected in the players' attitude, a phenomenon he also recognizes in Martin St-Louis in Montreal.

Gorton admits that he has always been fascinated by the winning culture established by the Patriots during the Tom Brady era. In his view, the return of figures associated with this dynasty now makes it possible to pass on the DNA of success, while building a bridge between the old and new generations of players.

The impact of a key player, from the NFL to the NHL

The rapid resurgence of the Patriots, propelled by the emergence of quarterback Drake Maye, reminds Gorton of the influence that certain young talents can have in hockey. Although the NFL is more dependent on its quarterback, the Canadiens are also benefiting from a promising new wave of talent, notably Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, not to mention Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky.

For Gorton, these rebuilding cycles, marked by patience and culture, echo the current trajectory of the habs. A return to the elite that, as in Boston, makes perfect sense over time.

This content was created with the help of AI.