It’s evident that there were significant changes during the Montreal Canadiens’ practice today. For the first time this season, no players were on the ice at 10:15 AM, suggesting a lengthy meeting took place between the players and coaches before the morning session.
RDS journalist Patrick Friolet pointed out another notable shift in coaching style. Typically, head coach Martin St-Louis actively joins drills with his gloves and stick, but today, he stood back while assistant coaches Stéphane Robidas and Trevor Letowski worked separately with the defensemen and forwards, respectively.
This adjustment seems aimed at revamping the team’s approach after a disappointing loss to the New York Rangers, especially in front of the home crowd at the Bell Centre. Personally, I didn’t expect Martin St-Louis to be under such scrutiny so early in the 2024-2025 season, and it will be intriguing to see the impact of these minor changes made today.
Today’s practice was also more intense, with a strong emphasis on one-on-one battles. What are your thoughts on the criticisms directed at Martin St-Louis at this point in the season? Are some critics being too harsh? One thing is clear: the upcoming weeks will be compelling, particularly as Kent Hughes appears to be actively seeking to make roster improvements via trades.
