Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky will miss the upcoming game against the Ottawa Senators following an internal dispute sparked by a dismissive comment made by head coach Martin St. Louis. The situation unfolded during a heated practice session, where Slafkovsky reportedly took issue with a remark downplaying his on-ice contributions in recent games.
Sources close to the team revealed that the tension had been building for several weeks, as Slafkovsky—who has shown promising development in his sophomore NHL season—felt his efforts were not being fully recognized by the coaching staff. The comment, described by insiders as “curt and unconstructive,” appeared to be the tipping point.
While the Canadiens have not officially suspended Slafkovsky, they announced on Thursday that the 20-year-old will not be in the lineup against the Senators due to “team management decisions.” Both the player and the coaching staff have declined to comment directly on the incident, but speculation continues to swirl among fans and analysts.
Team captain Nick Suzuki addressed the media briefly, saying, “We’re working through some things internally. Juraj is an important part of this team, and we’re confident everything will be resolved soon.”
Slafkovsky, drafted first overall in 2022, has been under a bright spotlight since joining the Canadiens. While his numbers have been improving steadily, critics have occasionally questioned the coaching strategy surrounding his development.
This incident has sparked wider discussion around player-coach dynamics, particularly with younger stars. Whether this is a brief conflict or a sign of deeper issues within the Canadiens’ locker room remains to be seen. For now, the team will need to refocus quickly as they face a determined Senators squad in what could be a critical game for their playoff hopes.