Martin St. Louis had admonished his players to exhibit greater urgency throughout training camp, singling out Juraj Slafkovsky in particular.
Yet the message clearly failed to resonate. On Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens endured a 7–2 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs—a game that still featured roughly eight of Montreal’s regular starters.
Not a good look
Among fans, the prevailing sentiment may well be, “It’s preseason—no harm done.” That assessment is only partially accurate. While these games do not impact official standings, they provide an essential opportunity for players to demonstrate commitment and leadership. Preseason performances allow veterans to inspire younger teammates and signal to coaches and training staff that they are prepared to contribute meaningfully during the regular season. After Thursday’s lopsided defeat, however, it is difficult to identify anyone who might have felt motivated—neither the home crowd at the Bell Centre nor the organization’s younger prospects likely found much to encourage them.
What is perhaps most striking is not merely the 7–2 scoreline, but the fact that Toronto fielded fewer NHL regulars—about five in total. On paper, this should have provided Montreal with a substantial advantage; seasoned NHL players are generally expected to outperform their AHL counterparts.
Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, one of the few players singled out for praise by St. Louis following the game, offered a measured and diplomatically phrased response when questioned about the lopsided defeat.
“I think there’s a different threshold of what’s worth playing through in pre-season.”
Unacceptable
The situation becomes all the more inexcusable when St. Louis publicly singled out a player for a perceived lack of urgency, emphasizing that the message was directed at the entire roster. What Matheson appears to be suggesting, albeit diplomatically, is that some players essentially disregarded the coach’s warning—likely out of a concern for avoiding injury.
While such caution is understandable in principle, the reality is that fans did not invest their time and money to watch their highly paid athletes hold back. Were the circumstances reversed, it is easy to imagine a segment of the audience demanding refunds or expressing frustration over what they perceived as a lack of effort.
If a team does not practice with the same intensity and commitment as it competes, it is destined to falter when faced with genuine adversity.
This has been the core message St. Louis has been emphasizing throughout camp, yet it evidently has not resonated with all members of the roster. The solution appears straightforward: intensify practice sessions, and if players still fail to meet expectations, the coaching staff may need to consider benching those who are not fully engaged until they figure it out.
Montreal now has an opportunity to move past its previous shortcomings when the Canadiens travel to Toronto to face the Leafs again Saturday at 7 p.m. local time.
Expect, too, that following that matchup, coach St. Louis will tighten the reins in practice. The team’s recent showing underscores the need for heightened discipline, sharper focus, and a renewed emphasis on urgency.