We had a memorable moment on the Canadiens’ bench during last night’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre.

Young forward Juraj Slafkovsky found himself demoted to the fourth line by Martin St. Louis mid-game and was eventually benched entirely.

Slafkovsky visibly showed his frustration after being left at the end of the bench for most of the second period and a good part of the third.

«After sitting on the bench for most of the 2nd period and the first 5 minutes of the 3rd, young Juraj Slafkovsky got a shift.»
– Priyanta Emrith

Some analysts suggest Slafkovsky’s benching was due to his level of effort and his tendency to take overly long shifts in the first period.

A classy gesture from Cole Caufield toward Juraj Slafkovsky

As Slafkovsky struggled with emotions and frustration over the situation, his teammate Cole Caufield stepped up with a supportive gesture, showing true leadership by consoling him.

Check out the footage:

Frustrated and benched, Juraj Slafkovsky was comforted by his teammate Cole Caufield.»

We love seeing this kind of camaraderie. It’s another sign that it might just be a matter of time before Cole Caufield assumes a bigger leadership role on the team.

“he’s a great guy; it was a little chat, nothing crazy. He’s a great guy and always by my side so it was nice.”

– Slafkovsky on Cole Caufield giving him some encouragement last night when he was temporarily benched

Slafkovsky, 20, finished the game with no points, one shot on goal, and two hits.

Martin St. Louis appears to be tightening the reins with his young players, which could be a positive development for the team.

This story is definitely one to watch.