Geoff Molson and Serge Savard have their guy. After firing Pierre Gauthier in March of this year they have tabbed Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM Marc Bergevin as the new Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Club de Hockey Canadien.
Bergevin is an experienced hockey man who has done it all, but this is is his first General Manager position. Bergevin has worked for the Chicago Blackhawks for the last 8 seasons, in a number of roles including Assistant General Manager, Director of Player Personnel, Director of Scouting, Pro Scout, and Assistant Coach. He has a Stanley Cup ring from the Blackhawks 2010 Cup winner.
Bergevin is praised by hockey insiders as an excellent talent evaluator. He is also known as a tireless worker and a people person. He comes highly recommended by Blackhawks Senior Advisor Scotty Bowman. Bergevin was a renowned practical joker in his playing days. Bergevin spent 20 years as an NHL defenceman with the Blackhawks, Blues, Islanders, Whalers, Lightning, Red Wings, and Canucks. Bergevin is married and has three children.
Rumors are swirling that Bergevin would like to hire Rick Dudley in some capacity in Canadiens management.
Bergevin has a heavy plate ahead of him, he has important decisions to make in hiring a coach, in getting ready for the NHL Draft, in preparing for free agency and for dealing with the contract of Scott Gomez. He may consider a buyout for Gomez which would be messy on the Habs salary cap, or burying him in the minors, with the Hamilton Bulldogs, or hope that the new NHL CBA offers an amnesty buy-out period without cap implications.
Bergevin will also need to spend time this summer on new contracts for RFAs Carey Price, PK Subban and Lars Eller.
Bergevin beat other candidates such as Pierre McGuire, Blair MacKasey, Ron Hextall, Vincent Damphousse, Julien Brisebois, Francois Giguere, Claude Loiseele, and Pat Brisson for the job.
A press conference has been called for 2pm at the Canadiens practice facility in Brossard Quebec.
… And thats the Last Word.
