Marc Bergevin Press Conference 1 PM

[Habs Halifax]

And us not matching a no-brainer as well if I may add.

Even if KK bust out, not matching was the best decision we could have made. No way we can risk future contracts to Suzuki, Caufield, Romanov and maybe Evans depending on what kind of year they have.

KK was given opportunity but some think we can afford to spoil him and just play him in a spot where we allow him to learn on the job. NHL is not a development league and only a few rebuilding teams can afford to do that.

If Suzuki can listen to instructions, KK should have been able to do that too.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Agree on the OS... but that's well known part of business. Relationships matter, and if you play with fire you better damn well make sure you've got your house protected.

I have no issue with a GM using offer sheets, but to do so then leave yourself so exposed is either stupid or intentional (frankly, I would bet it's the latter in this case... MB clearly didn't believe in the player & wouldn't surprise me if he was hoping for an offer sheet to materialize to buffer his own ego at explaining the draft/development failure of another top 3 pick).

JKO was one of our best players in the transition game... yes, he struggles with balance in contact, but that's more a strength and style of play issue than a skating one... this narrative is way overblown.

MB has a pretty piss poor track record in assessing young players... it's always a speculative process, but some teams/gms are far better at it. That's an area where he is far worse than mediocre, he's near the bottom of the pile in that regard... which is highly problematic for a guy who came in preaching "build via he draft" lol

If Bergevin and Ducharme mess up on our current prospect pool, I will join you. However, I feel it's deep and we don't have to rush guys. A guy like Norlinder coming into camp is a good test. Habs should be looking at his maturity, neutralization ability, and ability to handle less time and space. Look at points in preseason games should not be the focus.

I'm a big fan of Norlinder's offensive ability but the focus should be how he handles the physical parts and puck management parts in our own end. If he makes our roster, it should be all about how reliable he is, not about his offensive potential.

 

[Miller Time]

I'll tell you this... If he rushes another guy to the NHL at age 18 where they did not dominate a development league yet, I will be all over him on that! It's stupid and I give him credit for admitting to it to some degree.

Development road can be different but Bergevin is not wrong about that being more on the player than the organization. Being obsessed with getting better is how players develop. The teams responsibility is to facilitate the tools for them to be able to do it. If we didn't rush him, I believe we would have a better idea on who he is at 21 year vs rushing him. But at the end of the day, KK will be who he is at 23/24 no matter the development road IMO. Don't know if I explained that right

There is ample evidence JKO fits the description of a player "obsessed with getting better".

Contrast his behaviors, and how the team handled him vs Drouins behavior, and how he has been handled...

What a GM says is meaningless if his actions don't reflect it.

Of course players own the biggest degree of responsibility for their progress... that's a given.

And.

Teams can & do impact said development based on how well they support & set up a player to succeed.

As usual, MB spins the blame game to deflect from his own failed approaches... I guess he's "learning" that tempering it with a bit of hedged mea culpa makes for better PR. Not surprisingly, some buy that hook line and sinker while ignoring the series of actions that led to this point.

 

[Whitesnake]

Seems that Bergevin think it was a mistake to make him join the team that soon...lollllll.

You know...PROS know best after all.

 

[BenchBrawl]

What's funny about the Kotkaniemi situation, is that he was drafted at a time where everyone agreed we needed to break the bad spell of missing a #1 center. Kotkaniemi failed to become that in due time, but Bergevin did acquire a #1 center in Suzuki. He might not be a Sidney Crosby, but right now while we discuss the potential weaknesses of our team, the #1 center slot is filled with a promising up-and-coming player who has already proven his worth deep in the playoffs. I feel a lot of people are taking that for granted. This is far from a given for any team. Yet we have this, and we got it out of Max Pacioretty of all things. Was it luck? Maybe. But luck favors the bold, and what is Bergevin, if not arguably the boldest GM in Montreal history?

 

[jaffy27]

We now get an unprotected 1st from them so I’m sure that ends up being more valuable. I’m not sold on Carolina and I’m actually a fan of the Anderson move. I think deangelo and bear are gonna be a mess there.

Bear and DeAngelo in.....Hamilton out......a horrible trade off.

The KK money would've easily covered Hamilton's demands, and they sure as hell don't need more centers

would you rather have Hamilton, Bear, a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick in a super draft or....

Kotkaniemi and his 5 goals and 6.1m$ cap hit, DeAngelo, Bear and no 1st and 3rd round pick?

Carolina was so gung ho to get back at Montreal that they hurt themselves big time.....I hope they fall on their faces this year

 

[Miller Time]

If Bergevin and Ducharme mess up on our current prospect pool, I will join you. However, I feel it's deep and we don't have to rush guys. A guy like Norlinder coming into camp is a good test. Habs should be looking at his maturity, neutralization ability, and ability to handle less time and space. Look at points in preseason games should not be the focus.

I'm a big fan of Norlinder's offensive ability but the focus should be how he handles the physical parts and puck management parts in our own end. If he makes our roster, it should be all about how reliable he is, not about his offensive potential.

Funny... we're you not among the posters saying the same "if he messes up this lottery pick, I'll get off the MB fan bus" a few years ago???

Maybe not? But certainly the "ok, THIS TIME if he makes the same mistakes..." narratives have been around for the past 4-5 years.

Maybe better to just drop that and go with "no matter what he does, I'll support him because I'm happier when I look for the positives and would rather not consider anything else"?

 

[jaffy27]

Seems that Bergevin think it was a mistake to make him join the team that soon...lollllll.

You know...PROS know best after all.

Pro's normally do know best....they just don't know everything.

 

[Habaneros]

Seems that Bergevin think it was a mistake to make him join the team that soon...lollllll.

You know...PROS know best after all.

I guess we will see Caufield spend next 2 years in Laval eh?

 

[Miller Time]

Bear and DeAngelo in.....Hamilton out......a horrible trade off.

The KK money would've easily covered Hamilton's demands, and they sure as hell don't need more centers

would you rather have Hamilton, Bear, a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick in a super draft or....

Kotkaniemi and his 5 goals and 6.1m$ cap hit, DeAngelo, Bear and no 1st and 3rd round pick?

Carolina was so gung ho to get back at Montreal that they hurt themselves big time.....I hope they fall on their faces this year

Weren't you among those keen on trading for Deangelo...

Canes get him for free & at 1M$, and now it's a criticism lmao...

The inconsistency needed to stay attached to MBs coattails is hilarious

 

[jaffy27]

I guess we will see Caufield spend next 2 years in Laval eh?

now there's a player that was perfectly handled.

 

[Tyson]

Carolina is a weird organization. I remember not very long ago Brind'amour having to advocate for his asst coaches, trainers etc to be brought back and given raises. I find that odd

 

[Miller Time]

What's funny about the Kotkaniemi situation, is that he was drafted at a time where everyone agreed we needed to break the bad spell of missing a #1 center. Kotkaniemi failed to become that in due time, but Bergevin did acquire a #1 center in Suzuki. He might not be a Sidney Crosby, but right now while we discuss the potential weaknesses of our team, the #1 center slot is filled with a promising up-and-coming player who has already proven his worth deep in the playoffs. I feel a lot of people are taking that for granted. This is far from a given for any team. Yet we have this, and we got it out of Max Pacioretty of all things. Was it luck? Maybe. But luck favors the bold, and what is Bergevin, if not arguably the boldest GM in Montreal history?

Failed in "due time"...

Might want to go check that against what player development actually looks like in the NHL

 

[sheed36]

I guess we will see Caufield spend next 2 years in Laval eh?

Caufield was sent back to the NCAA for an additional year after being drafted though.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Caufield is the type of player who doesn't have to stay in the minors for very long because he has that Brett Hull-like unshakable inner confidence in himself.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Our management asked Mete to be more physical, maybe the problem is not how the players view themselves, but the way the management view them...

Mete did have to be more physical. Have you ever seen him try to box out?

 

[loudi94]

What I got out of this is that KK had the team questioning his worth and ability to progress. Clearly other players had passed him on the depth chart. In that respect it was up to him to up his game in whichever manner he could. When Jake Evans is out performing you, how can you be upset that you have to sit? When Phildo has to come on the ice to take D zone face-offs because you can't win them, how can you be upset? I wonder if the offer sheet will only make him feel justified instead of looking inside himself. I guess we will know some day. I've always said we saw KK the boy and KK the man would be a beast. It's possible I could be wrong if he doesn't ever grow up. I wish him luck.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Failed in "due time"...

Might want to go check that against what player development actually looks like in the NHL

I don't disagree, he should have been brought up the Plekanec way, one step at a time. Regardless, my point stands, Bergevin did acquire a legit #1 center out of virtually nothing (because Pacioretty was as good as gone anyway). Are you contesting Suzuki is a #1 center? The way I see it, he is EXACTLY the right kind of #1 center too, with a two-way complete game, just like the Bergeron, Kopitar and Toews, who coincidentally centered almost every Stanley Cup winning teams of the 2010s. And this is not just some vague analogy to make a point neither, as Suzuki already did show he was a strong playoff performer and could be depended upon deep in the playoffs already at his young age. And he is a right-handed shooter to boot, way more rare.

 

[Dach Vader]

Is Dvorak supposed to speak today?

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I agree with you frustration. I would have matched AND traded for Dvorak or re-signed Phil AND traded for Dvorak.

But, though I would have matched the KK offer sheet, that would be a move that comes with risk. Those picks we got form Carolina basically landed us Dvorak, who should be a high quality piece for perhaps 10 years. If KK doesn't pan out, we miss out on that piece for nothing. 2nd, you have to pay KK an extra 3M on the cap above his worth while waiting for him to pan out. Even if he does pan out, no one knows when. It took Couturier until 25. I could definitely see KK taking that long given his body type and difficulties with balance until he fills out...

You aren't exhibiting any foresight as tying up over 11 million in KK and Danault would have crippled us especially with Suzuki and Caufield looking for big increases in each of the next two seasons.

Then you want to trade our 1st + for Dvorak to play exactly where in the lineup?????

You don't give 5 goal scorers similar money to Marchand and MacKinnon on the hope that 3 years from now there is a slim chance that they become Sean Couturier. That is just abysmal business practice.

 

[HostileCapSpace]

Is Dvorak supposed to speak today?

Already did after MB. Usual stuff you would expect a new player to say when being traded. Likes our group of wingers, plays both ways, likes to play bumper or near the net on the PP where he scores his goals. Seemed a bit upset that he bought a house two days ago, which is understandable.

 

[BLONG7]

Caufield is the type of player who doesn't have to stay in the minors for very long because he has that Brett Hull-like unshakable inner confidence in himself.

Also the skill, and the results....the kid played very well at 3 different levels last year, college, AHL, and NHL.
This kid is special....

 

[OldCraig71]

More physical as in battling for pucks and asserting himself, not lining up guys crossing the blue line a la Emelin

Speaking of Emelin, I really loved seeing him crunch guys into the boards. It's a shame that he came to Montreal with a repaired jaw, I really think that factor held him back from becoming the player that he could have been. People often overlook what injuries do to a player, it's not easy to come back from.

 

[SakuKoivu11]

What's funny about the Kotkaniemi situation, is that he was drafted at a time where everyone agreed we needed to break the bad spell of missing a #1 center. Kotkaniemi failed to become that in due time, but Bergevin did acquire a #1 center in Suzuki. He might not be a Sidney Crosby, but right now while we discuss the potential weaknesses of our team, the #1 center slot is filled with a promising up-and-coming player who has already proven his worth deep in the playoffs. I feel a lot of people are taking that for granted. This is far from a given for any team. Yet we have this, and we got it out of Max Pacioretty of all things. Was it luck? Maybe. But luck favors the bold, and what is Bergevin, if not arguably the boldest GM in Montreal history?

Suzuki will never be Crosby but there’s a very good chance he’ll be Patrice Bergeron.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

We’ll see, I’m actually very positive about this season, assuming injuries don’t derail the season.

Habs IMO have the deepest forward group in the division, albeit can’t match the top line talents of their division opposition, and I expect MB will address PMD / PP QB and veteran 3C before start of the season

They have one of the most talentless D group in the league. Ain't gonna get far without a proper D.