Martin St-Louis shares his thoughts on Filip Mesar: it's shaking things up

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David St-Jean
September 24, 2024 (11:14 PM)

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Since his arrival in the Montreal Canadiens organization, Filip Mesar has drawn significant interest due to his potential and natural talent.

Drafted 26th overall in 2022, the Slovak forward has made impressive strides, and head coach Martin St-Louis does not hide his satisfaction with Mesar's development.

According to St-Louis, Mesar has shown clear improvement in several aspects of his game, especially in understanding the team's systems and adapting to the North American style of play. For a young European player, adjusting to the pace and physicality of hockey in North America can be a challenge, but Mesar seems to be handling it well. His ability to quickly absorb lessons from the coaching staff shows maturity not always seen in young players.

In addition to his hockey IQ, Filip Mesar has demonstrated great versatility on the ice. He can play in various attacking positions, a valuable asset for a coach like St-Louis, who emphasizes lineup flexibility. Whether on the wing or in the center, Mesar quickly adapts and creates scoring opportunities with his vision and creativity with the puck.

Mesar's physical development has also caught St-Louis' attention. Though still young and growing, he has begun building a stronger frame, vital for facing the challenges of the NHL. This growth should help him better handle contact and compete more effectively in puck battles.

However, St-Louis stresses that Mesar still has work to do before becoming a regular NHL player. He needs to continue working on his consistency and defensive play. Nonetheless, the fact that the head coach is pleased with his progress at this stage is a very encouraging sign for the young Slovak's future.

In summary, Filip Mesar is on the right track to becoming a key part of the Canadiens' future, and Martin St-Louis seems confident in his continued development.