Martin St-Louis Sends a Message: Canadiens Coach Benches Three in Frustration-Fueled Third Period
When a coach shortens his bench, it's usually a sign. When he does it for nearly an entire period, it's a statement. On Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis didn’t just send a message-he delivered it loud and clear with his lineup decisions.
Three players-Zachary Bolduc, Jake Evans, and Florian Xhekaj-were essentially glued to the bench for the third period. Not because of injury, not due to fatigue, but because, in St-Louis’ eyes, they weren’t holding up their end of the bargain defensively.
**“If you can’t defend, you’re sitting.” **
That was the blunt message St-Louis reportedly delivered to his players in the locker room after the first period. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki confirmed it postgame, and what followed on the ice backed it up.
Jake Evans saw just two short shifts in the third. Florian Xhekaj?
Only one. Zachary Bolduc, who started the night on the top line alongside Suzuki and Cole Caufield, also logged just a single shift in the final frame.
That’s not a coaching adjustment-that’s a benching.
It’s not often you see a top-line forward get this kind of treatment mid-game, but Bolduc’s performance clearly didn’t meet the standard. Whether it was defensive lapses, lack of engagement, or simply not following the system, St-Louis wasn’t about to let it slide.
The Accountability Era in Montreal
This isn’t the first time St-Louis has held his players to a high standard, but this moment felt like a turning point. The Canadiens have been preaching development, structure, and compete level all season.
But development doesn’t mean handing out minutes for free. If you’re not playing the right way-especially without the puck-you’re going to hear about it.
Or in this case, feel it.
Evans, a veteran presence in the bottom six, has typically been a reliable two-way player. But even he wasn’t spared. Xhekaj, meanwhile, is still trying to carve out his role on this team, and this kind of night won’t help his case.
In fact, the consequences came quickly. Xhekaj was scratched for the following game against the Winnipeg Jets, with Jared Davidson drawing into the lineup in his place. That’s not just a warning-that’s a demotion.
What Comes Next?
For Bolduc, Evans, and Xhekaj, this isn’t the end of the road. But it’s a fork in it.
St-Louis has made it clear: ice time is earned, not given. And while young players will make mistakes, there’s a difference between growing pains and repeated breakdowns.
The Canadiens are a team in transition, building toward something bigger. Nights like this are part of the process.
But they also show that Martin St-Louis isn’t here to watch bad habits take root. He’s here to build a culture-and that starts with accountability.
Puck drops at 7:30 tonight against the Jets, with Montreal set to honor longtime defenseman Andrei Markov before the game. But for a few players on the roster, the real spotlight will come after the ceremony-when the game begins, and the minutes are handed out.