Georges Laraque made a big statement about Michael Pezzetta

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Julien Trekker
July 22, 2023 (10:36)

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A few days ago, the website DansLesCoulisses reported that Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta was taking private lessons with former tough guy Georges Laraque to be prepared for the upcoming season.

It's excellent news to see that #55 of the Canadiens is determined to improve his fighting skills to defend his teammates in the best way possible in the 2023-2024 season.

With the Atlantic Division becoming increasingly physical and several enforcers like Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins), Ryan Reaves (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Zac MacEwen (Ottawa Senators) signing with direct rivals of the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, Pezzetta's physical presence will greatly support Arber Xhekaj.

Laraque had great words about the 25-year-old left-winger, mentioning that he has made significant progress in recent weeks. Wow! According to Laraque, we can expect some intense fights next season!

"Well, now that it's public and the 'Dans les Coulisses' site has published a video of my training with Michael Pezzetta, I can't really deny it. For several years now, I've been training players on how to defend themselves or fight on the ice. I've never shared this publicly because I respect the players' privacy, and at the same time, I don't want to start doing it full-time given my busy schedule.

The other day at the Bell Complex in Brossard, with all the people watching us from the stands, I suspected it would come out. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with it; it's a personal initiative of Michael, who asked me for private sessions that I give for free to him or any other player I help in this area.

When I was young, if Bob Probert had agreed to give me some help, I would have accepted it eagerly. We've had a couple of sessions with Michael, and he has improved immensely. Even though Michael is not the biggest, he plays big. He's not afraid and will defend his teammates to the end. He's aware that he's now playing in the toughest division in the league, and he wants to be ready. He knows how to play hockey, plays physically, and just wants to ensure, in his preparation, that he adds more elements to his game." - George Laraque

While many experts would prefer fighting to be banned in the NHL, there's no denying that they provide incredible entertainment for fans. We look forward to seeing Pezzetta drop the gloves next season, as he never hesitates to stand up for his teammates.

Credits: Fanadiens