January 10, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) protects the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during the third period at the Bell Centre.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

We have a first fairly surprising announcement from the Montreal Canadiens following the loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Based on what was announced yesterday during the media scrums, Martin St-Louis has decided to call a mandatory morning skate today.

This isn’t just another routine practice.

It’s a direct way to put the focus back on the job, and it’s unexpected.

Normally, after an intense stretch of games (especially on a Sunday), the Montreal Canadiens never practice.

This time, they’re going back to a session that forces everyone to be present, on time, and ready. When the Club takes the time to announce it in advance, it’s rarely for nothing.

Martin St-Louis sets the table for an intense day today!

There’s also a very human side to this. A loss to Detroit stings, and you want a quick response.

Not tomorrow, not next week. Right now.

A mandatory practice is a way of saying the standard stays the same, even when things didn’t go well the night before.

Meanwhile, player storylines keep piling up, adding positive pressure around the group.

Alexandre Texier, for example, remains a topic of discussion, because his arrival in Montreal is a unique one.

He signed a one-year deal worth $1 million on November 23, 2025, after becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Before that, his production in St. Louis wasn’t explosive. This season with the Blues, he played eight games and recorded one assist. Last year, still in St. Louis, he played 31 games, with six goals and five assists.

Drafted 45th overall in 2017, he’s not coming out of nowhere, but he’s arriving with clear motivation.

This morning, the main things to watch will be the atmosphere, the faces, and the tone. Because a mandatory practice guarantees nothing on the ice. But it tells you exactly what the coach wants to see right now.

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Martin St-Louis makes a surprising decision following 4-0 loss to the Red Wings

Mandatory morning skate on Sunday: a good decision by St-Louis?