Guillaume Latendresse returns to TV as Canadiens analyst on Amazon Prime

Guillaume Latendresse is set to step back into the spotlight on Wednesday, almost two years after walking away from his media career for health reasons. The former Montreal Canadiens forward will serve as a studio analyst for the new package of Canadiens games on Amazon Prime, marking his full-time return to hockey broadcasting.

Latendresse decided in October 2024 to pause his professional activities, feeling the pace of his various roles had become unsustainable. Now 37, he says he feels calm and ready as he travels back to Montreal, just days before his first appearance on Amazon’s NHL coverage.

Amazon secures Wednesday night NHL package

Amazon Prime has acquired national Wednesday night NHL broadcast rights for the next 12 seasons. For the 2026-27 campaign, seven of those nationally televised games will feature the Montreal Canadiens. In all, the platform will air 27 regular-season contests along with selected Stanley Cup playoff games.

Play-by-play duties will be handled by veteran broadcaster Alain Crête for Canadiens games, with Michaël Roy taking on other matchups. Former defenceman Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre and reporter Marc-André Perreault will round out the game crew. In the studio, Latendresse will work with host Maxime Lalonde and former goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère.

Amazon’s coverage begins this Wednesday, September 30, with a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, following a full crew rehearsal scheduled for Tuesday. The first Canadiens game on the platform is set for October 14, when Montreal visits the Washington Capitals.

A reset before taking on a "new challenge"

Since retiring from the NHL in 2013 after 341 games, including 232 with the Canadiens, Latendresse has filled a number of roles: coach and general manager at the Midget AAA level, television analyst at RDS and TVA Sports, and co-creator of the popular podcast La Poche Bleue with Maxime Lapierre. Over time, the workload became too heavy, leaving him feeling like he was burning out.

After consulting a neuropsychologist, he made significant lifestyle changes. Without seeing himself as dependent, he stopped drinking alcohol and focused on getting back into shape, mindful of his history of concussions. He has spoken of mood swings and memory lapses that have eased since making those adjustments.

Latendresse says the public largely respected his decision to step away and that he received many supportive messages during his time off. He also points to strong encouragement from actor Michel Charette, with whom he exchanged frequent messages as he navigated his recovery.

Positive, complementary analysis with Giguère

On Amazon’s studio set, Latendresse expects to offer a different perspective alongside Giguère. One played up front, the other in goal, giving them distinct ways of reading the game. Latendresse has indicated he wants to highlight good plays and maintain a positive tone in his analysis rather than focusing primarily on mistakes.

Before Amazon reached out, he had briefly considered pursuing a position within a hockey organization but never moved beyond the idea. He views the offer from the streaming giant as arriving at the right moment and as the new challenge he had been looking for. After two years away to reset his health and priorities, his return to the media begins in earnest on Wednesday night.