Midway through training camp, the Canadiens reorganized their groups this week — one now built around the players expected to open the season in Montreal, the other, Group B, for everyone else — not headed to Laval or the ECHL yet, just not part of the NHL-bound group for these reps. It made for a busy Wednesday at the Brossard complex: Martin St-Louis talked about what it actually takes to earn an NHL job, Ivan Demidov took a slapshot off the foot Monday night, and Josh Anderson made the case for keeping Florian Xhekaj around.

Group A: The Jobs Still Up for Grabs

The new Group A is built around the NHL roster, plus four prospects still fighting for a job: David Reinbacher and Adam Engström on defense — filling in while Kaiden Guhle recovers from his offseason surgery — and Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck up front.

St-Louis on What It Takes

Asked about the young players hoping to make the jump to the NHL, St-Louis didn’t talk about talent.

“Everyday you start over,” he said. “You got a good game? Great. What are you doing today? You had a bad game? Okay. What are you doing today? To me, everyday you start over. I would tell the young guys that are knocking on the door, that are trying to push the door open: just focus on each and every day.”

“There’s no secret sauce, there’s just consistent work, and discipline through your work and process,” he continued. “Going from actually playing in the NHL to becoming a regular, that’s another level. So you might as well have a consistent process that’s gonna elevate your percentages to actually have a career.”

And he closed with the line that sums up exactly where Reinbacher, Engström, Xhekaj and Beck stand right now: “Having a great camp is awesome, but it’s not enough.”

Lane Hutson made a similar point about a group with 13 healthy NHL-contract forwards already fighting for spots: “You have to stand out daily. It never stops.”

Demidov Update

Ivan Demidov took a slapshot off the foot during Monday night’s game and sat out Wednesday’s practice as a precaution. Nothing serious — he’s expected back on the ice today or tomorrow.

The rest of the group trended in the right direction. Jake Evans and Alexandre Carrier were both back at practice, and Kaiden Guhle skated on his own in full gear as he continues to recover from the minor offseason surgery that’s kept him out of the lineup.

Anderson’s Endorsement

Josh Anderson, Hamilton-born like Xhekaj, has taken on something of a mentor role for the younger player this camp — and he made his opinion on Xhekaj’s future clear Wednesday.

“I love the way he plays — he reminds me of myself,” Anderson said. “It wouldn’t hurt to have another physical guy to do the checking work and just provide a presence. I know the team’s talked about wanting a bit more sandpaper. That’s what he brings, plus the ability to score goals.”

Anderson also had a message for Xhekaj and the rest of camp’s younger players about what it takes to actually stick: “You need to believe in your abilities and understand you can’t take a single day for granted. You have to put yourself in the spotlight every day.”

Xhekaj, 22, has played in both of the Canadiens’ preseason games so far — against Toronto and Ottawa — and stood out with his skating, physicality and ability to disrupt plays. After two full seasons in Laval, he’s squarely in the mix for a full-time job.

Coach’s Take

I hope St-Louis’s message was aimed directly at Florian Xhekaj, because Florian deserves to start the season with the Canadiens — no doubt about it. At this point, management needs to consider healthy-scratching Kirby Dach or trading him. Xhekaj has done everything a player is supposed to do at training camp to win a job. Sending him back to Laval would be a disgrace, and I would completely disagree with that decision from Canadiens management, MSL included.

I’m not worried about Ivan Demidov. It’s just a bruise, and he should be back on the ice today.

And of course Anderson likes Xhekaj — why wouldn’t he? Xhekaj checks every box to play alongside Anderson and Jake Evans and give that line its own identity.

There are still a few days left before camp wraps up and we find out the Canadiens’ final roster.

— Coach Frenchy