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The loss in the final regular-season game did not stop Martin St-Louis from sending a very clear message to his players.
The Montreal Canadiens head coach clearly does not hold back when it comes to evaluating his team’s performance with the NHL playoffs just around the corner.
Kirby Dach has been under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, with critics pointing to his lack of physical engagement and inconsistent impact.
“He could be 7 feet tall and weigh 400 pounds. The way he plays, it’s absolutely useless, because he doesn’t hit and he’s not aggressive.
Seriously—give me a 5-foot-9, 180-pound guy in the lineup over a 6-foot-4, 225-pound guy who doesn’t even touch a damn mosquito. Damn! What a drop-off!”
– Gilbert Delorme
Despite the mounting criticism surrounding Kirby Dach, Martin St-Louis used his post-game press conference to deliver a clear and direct message about two of his forwards, including Dach.
“I feel like they both brought some physicality to their game, which I like. They are both pretty good with the puck and I think they can both extend offensive zone time. To me, it is about maintaining that physicality while also being detailed in their play.”
– Martin St. Louis on Kirby Dach & Alexandre Texier
For those who were hoping to see Dach in the stands to start the playoffs, that idea can now be put to rest.
Martin St-Louis demands consistent physical play and execution from Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier ahead of playoffs
The message delivered afterward by the coach is extremely precise: bringing physical play and maintaining puck possession is good, but it must be done consistently and intelligently.
Forgetting the small details on the ice can be very costly for the team, especially with the playoffs starting in just a few days.
Kirby Dach, with his imposing size, must become a true force on a consistent basis, without ever letting up.
For his part, Alexandre Texier has shown he can be very disruptive to opponents, but his execution must strictly follow the game plan.
St-Louis knows very well that intensity will rise and space will be limited in the first round.
He wants to make sure his forwards are fully prepared.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Martin St. Louis makes his expectations crystal clear for Kirby Dach ahead of the playoffs
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