Montreal Canadiens coach hints some of his players may not wear pride jerseys

As the Montreal Canadiens gear up for their Pride Night at the Bell Centre, the team's coach, Martin St. Louis, has hinted that some players may not be wearing special pride jerseys during warmups.

St. Louis has acknowledged that the issue has been discussed with the team, but has remained tight-lipped about which players may be opting out.

"I'm going to answer those questions tomorrow when I have all the information and can be prepared to answer the tough questions," he stated.

While the coach did not reveal any specifics, his comments have raised some eyebrows and sparked discussion about the role of professional athletes in supporting marginalized communities.

However, St. Louis emphasized the importance of the day and the team's commitment to it.

"The Montreal Canadiens are taking this day very seriously. It's a great day, and we'll talk about it tomorrow," he said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team's participation, St. Louis made it clear that inclusivity and acceptance are values he holds dear.

"All causes are important to me," he stated. "I'm a guy that welcomes everyone, and I think it should be the same in sport."

As the NHL continues to push for greater diversity and inclusion within the league, the Montreal Canadiens' Pride Night serves as a reminder that there is still work to be done. The question remains, which players will stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and wear the pride jerseys, and which players will not. Only time will tell.

Montreal Canadiens may target Pierre-Luc Dubois in offseason

The Winnipeg Jets have reportedly discussed the possibility of trading Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Montreal Canadiens, potentially earlier than expected. Dubois was acquired by the Jets in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2021 and is set to become a restricted free agent after this season.

While the Montreal Canadiens may be hesitant to give up prospects or draft picks for Dubois when they know they can potentially get him for nothing in a year, the Jets may still be looking for some form of compensation in return for the forward.

This situation draws comparisons to the Jacob Trouba saga, where the former Jets defenseman only wanted to be traded to the New York Rangers and was eventually traded in 2019 for a package of players and draft picks.

It remains to be seen how Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will handle this situation, as he could either choose to keep Pierre-Luc Dubois and attempt to sign him to a long-term contract, or trade him to a team willing to give up the assets they are looking for. The outcome of this situation will undoubtedly have implications for both the Jets and the rest of the league going forward.