The Montreal Canadiens delivered a powerful and emotional tribute to coaching consultant Roger Grillo on Saturday night, celebrating his return to the team after a successful battle against cancer. Following their decisive 7-3 victory over the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre, the team honored Grillo in a moving locker room ceremony that highlighted the deep bonds within the organization.
A Special Recognition
After each victory, the Canadiens traditionally award a wolf head hat to the "player of the game." While Cole Caufield had an outstanding performance with three goals and two assists, and Juraj Slafkovsky contributed two goals and two assists, it was veteran forward Brendan Gallagher who made the symbolic gesture of presenting the hat to Grillo instead. Gallagher had received the honor himself just days earlier during his 900th career NHL game against the Boston Bruins.
"The boys brought Roger in after the game," explained head coach Martin St. Louis, who deliberately stayed out of the locker room to allow the players their special moment. "To me, that's important and it's not forced. I think it's just the quality of people that we have."
Grillo's Journey Back to the Team
The 62-year-old Grillo had been away from the Canadiens since early November while undergoing cancer treatment. His return for Saturday's game marked a significant milestone, and he will remain with the team for the remainder of the season. Grillo's connection to the organization runs deep through his long-standing friendship with St. Louis, dating back to their time together at the University of Vermont in the early 1990s.
During St. Louis's Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech in 2018, he specifically thanked Grillo for teaching him the "details of the game" that proved crucial to his NHL success. This mentorship has continued with the Canadiens, where Grillo serves as a stabilizing presence among the coaching staff.
"Roger's an older guy," St. Louis noted about his consultant's role. "We have a young staff, so Roger's an older guy and has a lot of wisdom. I feel Roger is kind of the jar that holds that... kind of keeps it all together."
A Team United in Support
The locker room erupted in cheers as Grillo accepted the wolf head hat, with Cole Caufield visibly celebrating the moment. Grillo initially expressed reluctance, telling players "I feel bad about taking this tonight," before calling Caufield, Slafkovsky, and captain Nick Suzuki over for a group embrace.
Gallagher, whose mother passed away from brain cancer last March, understands the challenges Grillo faced. "You never try to put yourself in their shoes," Gallagher reflected. "I think you just try to be there and support them the best you can. When you get an opportunity to make someone happy and put a smile on their face, take advantage of it."
Building a Family Culture
The tribute underscored the family atmosphere the Canadiens have cultivated under St. Louis's leadership. Gallagher emphasized that everyone in the organization plays a vital role in their collective success.
"You try to be a family as much as you can," Gallagher explained. "Everyone's a part of it, everyone has a role to play. At the end of the day, our success isn't one guy—it's not just the players and the coaches, it's every single person in this organization that matters."
St. Louis expressed particular pride in seeing Caufield celebrating beside Grillo, noting it demonstrated the young forward's character. "What I admire most about Cole is that he celebrates everyone," St. Louis observed. "When I saw that picture I was like: Well, I proved my point."
The Canadiens' victory was officially dedicated to Grillo, with the team's social media accounts sharing the emotional moment using the hashtag #GoHabsGo. As the team prepares for their next game against the Carolina Hurricanes, they do so with their full coaching staff reunited and strengthened by the bonds demonstrated in Saturday's heartfelt tribute.
