Sasha Pastujov got an early look from head coach Martin St-Louis as Canadiens camp opened, and the moment carried more weight than a routine drill.
St-Louis took time to work directly with Pastujov during practice, a scene reported from Brossard on Thursday.
That individual attention matters for a player entering camp without a guaranteed NHL role. Pastujov is trying to force his way higher on Montreal's organizational depth chart.
He isn't expected to walk straight into the Canadiens' lineup. His path could run through Laval, where production and consistency would determine how quickly another opportunity arrives.
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Still, getting one-on-one instruction from St-Louis this early gives Pastujov something valuable: a direct look at what Montreal's head coach wants from his game.
The connection isn't completely new either. Pastujov previously played in the U.S. development program alongside Ryan St-Louis, Martin's son.
Sasha Pastujov gets a real chance to make an impression
Pastujov was selected in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, but his offensive ability hasn't yet translated into an established NHL role. That leaves him with plenty to prove at camp.
Montreal doesn't need him to arrive as a finished product. What matters now is whether his skill can survive the pace, pressure and details demanded at the next level.
St-Louis' decision to spend extra time with him also says something about how camp is being handled. Players outside the projected opening-night roster aren't simply filling practice groups.
For Pastujov, every rep becomes part of the evaluation. A strong camp can change his place in the pecking order even if Laval remains his likely destination when cuts arrive.
The Canadiens already have competition throughout the forward group, so breaking through won't come from reputation alone. Pastujov needs to show he can create offence without giving away details elsewhere.
That makes the early coaching attention worth watching. St-Louis is giving Pastujov information directly, and now the winger has to turn those corrections into better shifts.
Training camp rarely changes a player's career in one morning. But for Sasha Pastujov, getting Martin St-Louis' attention this quickly gives him an opening to make the Canadiens look twice.
Can Sasha Pastujov force his way into the Canadiens' NHL plans this season?
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