Montreal Canadiens: important statement from Martin St-Louis

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Jeff Drouin
September 21, 2022 (10:24 PM)

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The Montreal Canadiens' training camp opens today. Martin St-Louis will have 74 players under his command over the next few days and will be able to introduce his philosophy to everyone.

In an interview this Wednesday morning on BPM Sports, CH head coach Martin St-Louis made a number of interesting statements. Here are some of them:

About his preparation for the camp :

"The biggest thing is our conditioning. I know, with the way the players train in the summer, that we don't start from behind. But likewise, we have to crank it up a little bit because the year is demanding and then the speed is demanding during the games. But also to get into competition mode, it's something we're going to attack and we're going to take the "exhibition" games as seriously as we're able to take them because they're rehearsals that we need." - Martin St. Louis

Regarding his attendance at the Rookie Tournament:

"It was important, I think it's important for the players to see your presence. It's important to see what they look like these players. It's a first impression for each other. I don't want to say it motivates them, but I think it makes them work a little harder if they know that other eyes are watching them." - Martin St. Louis

"This year I took my coaches with me, then we did "meetings" all day about what we want to do here in Montreal. Then in the evening the four of us would go to the games. It's been time together, a little bit of dinner. It was business and pleasure." - Martin St-Louis

Regarding Juraj Slafkovsky:

"The goal with Slaf is to make the best player we can make, not the best 18-year-old player. We're going to make the decision that helps us make him a better hockey player. At 18, it's not trying to do everything to make him have a good season, it's coaching him and having a plan for him. Like I'm telling you, his play in training camp, his demeanor with the veterans, how he's able to play in "exhibition games. His game is going to speak to us and we'll make the decision that's best for the kid, for the Habs." - Martin St. Louis

About P.K. Subban:

"It's a question for Kent, it didn't get to me [if there was any question of bringing him back to Montreal]. P.K. had a great career, he's a respected player, he was very electrifying, he brought a lot of energy when he was on the ice. He did what he had to do in the league and should be proud of everything he did." - Martin St. Louis