Jean-Yves Ahern/US PRESSWIRE

During his six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, former NHLer Maxim Lapierre wasn’t known for his goal-scoring ability. However, the gritty forward earned respect for his relentless work ethic and knack for getting under opponents’ skin.

Now an analyst for TVA Sports and co-host of the La Poche Bleue podcast, Lapierre is questioning whether the current Canadiens roster shares that same drive.

Appearing on the Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro after the Canadiens’ loss to Utah on Wednesday — a game in which the Habs managed just 13 shots on goal — Lapierre went off on a rant about players not earning their paycheques.

“When I was playing, I would get so mad about people complaining about a guy’s salary. But at the end of the day, they were right,” Lapierre said, calling out Habs players who fail to justify their lucrative contracts.

“You have guys showing up with nice suits, nice cars, some guys make $400,000 every two weeks,” he continued “Bottom line is you’re working 20 minutes when you show up at the Bell Centre.”

With that said, the 39-year-old made one simple request for the team that sits at the bottom of the NHL’s Atlantic Division: “Can you f*cking skate and hit? I don’t give a f*ck how you’re feeling [or] if you’re tired. Can you f*cking work?”

Before wrapping up, the Montreal native, who retired from pro hockey in 2020, doubled down on his message, emphasizing how fortunate professional athletes are:

“It’s a privilege in life to go to bed at night and not worry about your finances and about your health. Shut up and f*cking skate.”

Riding a 7-11-3 record to start the season, the Canadiens will be back in action on Wednesday night when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road.

Here’s hoping at least some of them get a hold of Lapierre’s message before puck drop.