On November 25th, 2015, the Montreal Canadiens announced they have signed GM and Vice President Marc Bergevin to a multi-year contract extension that will run through the 2021-22 season. Owner and President Geoff Molson called a press conference today to discuss the deal.
“I am very pleased to announce that Marc accepted a multi-year contract extension and that he will remain our general manager until the end of the 2021-22 season. This new agreement brings added stability for our organization and particularly for our hockey operations. It enables us to continue our efforts in giving our fans a winning team,” Moslon said.
“Marc is an excellent general manager who quickly made an impact in the league with his leadership skills and his ability to identify the needs and find the personnel to assemble a championship team. I am very pleased with his work and the results he has achieved since his appointment as general manager,” he added, as quoted by the Canadiens website.
Marc Bergevin Signs Extension Through 2021-22
Bergevin has been the GM of the Canadiens and the Hamilton Bulldos/ St John’s IceCaps since succeeding Pierre Gauthier on May 2, 2012. He took a franchise that had endured it’s worst statistical season in history and began adding new life to the team. Since his first year at the helm in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, the Canadiens have made the playoffs each time and have been to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the New York Rangers in six games.
He has been a trading genius thus far, acquiring some great core and contributing players for low prices. One of his highlights was last trade deadline when he acquired Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers for a 2015 2nd round draft pick and a 2015 4th round draft pick then signed Petry to a six-year extension. Some more of his notable acquisitions include Michael Ryder, Sergei Gonchar, Thomas Vanek, Dale Weise, P.A. Parenteau, Devante Smith-Pelly, Zack Kassian and Mike Weaver, among others.
He has also resigned many core players to new contracts including Max Pacioretty, Carey Price, Brendan Gallagher, Alexei Emelin, Tomas Plekanec, David Desharnais, and Lars Eller. This will keep the window for the Canadiens being a contender open for a while longer, as the contracts are very team friendly.
This move by the franchise ensures that Bergevin will continue to build the team for a Stanley Cup now and for the future, much like how he learned under Stan and Scotty Bowman in Chicago. It’s apparent that the apprenticeship has paid off. He won a Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010 and is now gunning to win his own as GM. The future is bright in Montreal.
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