The moment froze in time, captured by thousands of eyes and the relentless glare of Bell Centre’s arena lights—Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal’s prized young forward, glared across the ice with a look that could cut glass. Seconds earlier, he’d been the recipient of a “suicide pass,” a dangerous rookie mistake from Adam Engstrom that left Slafkovsky sprawled and vulnerable, his frustration boiling over in full view of 21,000 spectators. It was the kind of raw, unscripted drama that rarely escapes the confines of the locker room, but on this night, it played out center stage for the entire hockey world to dissect.

Montreal’s roster is a mosaic of youth and ambition, patched together by necessity as injuries continue to ravage the lineup. With defensive stalwarts Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson sidelined, the Canadiens were forced to lean on their youngest, least experienced players—an experiment in survival that has defined their season. But survival comes at a cost, and when Engstrom’s ill-advised pass put Slafkovsky in the crosshairs of a punishing hit, the cracks in composure were impossible to hide.

What followed was more than just a fleeting moment of anger. Slafkovsky’s reaction—visible both on the ice and later on the bench—ignited a firestorm of debate. Was his public rebuke of Engstrom justified, or did he cross a line by singling out a rookie in front of thousands? Hockey legends and analysts weighed in, their opinions split. Gilbert Delorme was blunt, criticizing Slafkovsky for the icy glare he shot at his teammate, suggesting that such a reaction would never be directed at a veteran like Matheson. “I understand it’s a kid’s mistake…but don’t look at him like that in front of 21,000 people,” Delorme insisted, raising questions about leadership and respect.

Yet, not everyone agreed. Renaud Lavoie, speaking from the perspective of a player who’s just absorbed a brutal hit, offered empathy for Slafkovsky’s instinctive response. “I might look as if to say, ‘What was that?’” Lavoie admitted, acknowledging that in the heat of battle, emotion often trumps etiquette. The divide in opinions mirrored a larger conversation about what it means to hold teammates accountable, especially when the stakes are high and the spotlight is unforgiving.

As the dust settled, the real story began to emerge—not in the moment itself, but in what would happen next. Would Engstrom learn and grow from the mistake, or would the sting of public criticism linger, affecting his confidence? Did Slafkovsky’s message help solidify the team’s resolve, or did it sow seeds of discord among Montreal’s promising young core? The answers, much like the emotions on display, remain unresolved, swirling beneath the surface as the Canadiens continue their uphill battle.

One thing is clear: this wasn’t just another game, and these weren’t just ordinary teammates. The fallout from Slafkovsky’s reaction promises to shape the team’s chemistry in ways no stat sheet can measure. For those seeking the truth behind Montreal’s locker room dynamics—and the future of its youngest stars—the story is only just beginning. If you want to know what really happened, and what it means for the Canadiens moving forward, you’ll have to read on.

Photo of Juraj Slafkovsky

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

Juraj Slafkovsky lost patience with a teammate yesterday during the game against the Flyers.

As we know, there are a lot of young players on the Montreal Canadiens, with several rookies in the lineup. The team was already the youngest, and when injuries pile up, even younger players get called up.

That says everything about the lack of experience in this locker room, but despite that, the group is managing to keep its head above water.

In yesterday’s game, two defensive pillars were missing: Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson. Those aren’t the kind of absences you can easily hide, especially when you have to give minutes to a guy who’s coming in as reinforcement.

Adam Engstrom found himself in an intense situation, and he made a mistake that put a teammate in trouble.

Juraj Slafkovsky didn’t take the pass well

Engstrom made a very dangerous pass to Juraj Slafkovsky, and Slaf got hit afterward.

The reaction was visible, on the ice and on the bench, and it quickly became a topic of debate. Some people think it’s normal, others think it shouldn’t be handled in front of the cameras, especially when the message is directed at a young player.

Gilbert Delorme didn’t like what he saw, and he said it bluntly.

“I didn’t like the look Slafkovsky gave the young player (Engstrom) afterward. I understand it’s a kid’s mistake and that he shouldn’t have made that pass, but don’t look at him like that in front of 21,000 people.

As far as Slafkovsky is concerned, I think he missed the boat there. If it had been Matheson who made that pass to him, I’m not sure he would have given him sh*t.”

– Delorme

On the other hand, Renaud Lavoie fully understands the instinct of a player who just paid the price on a suicide pass.

“I might not be a good teammate here, but I might look too. I might look as if to say, ‘What was that?’

I’m not saying it’s unacceptable to say that, but as a player, I’m at the Bell Centre, I just got hit on a suicide pass, I might say to myself, ‘What just happened there?’ I might look.”

– Renaud Lavoie

In the end, the real test is what happens afterward. Engstrom learned on the fly, and Slaf sent his message-maybe too strongly.