HF Habs: - Out of Town Thread: 2025 Playoff edition | Page 238 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

HF Habs: Out of Town Thread: 2025 Playoff edition

No Grit 😅

No Grind 😂

No Greatness 🤣

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Conference final appearances since Tavares left Long Island to ''back'' in Toronto back in 2018:

Islanders: 2

Tavares: 0
:) such a shame he didn't just stick with us.

we could have won it all.

Oh well.. I am sure the isles will do well with...

Marc Bergevin​


bleh.


Any Habs fans here who want to give me the details on his time as a GM? the good, the bad, the ugly?
 
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:) such a shame he didn't just stick with us.

we could have won it all.

Oh well.. I am sure the isles will do well with...

Marc Bergevin​


bleh.


Any Habs fans here who want to give me the details on his time as a GM? the good, the bad, the ugly?
Marc Bergevin served as the general manager (GM) and executive vice president of the Montreal Canadiens from May 2, 2012, to November 28, 2021, making his tenure one of the longest for a Canadiens GM since Serge Savard’s dismissal in 1995. His time with the Canadiens was marked by significant highs and lows, reflecting both his bold decision-making and the challenges of managing a franchise with intense fan and media scrutiny in a hockey-mad city.

Key Achievements
Bergevin inherited a team coming off a disastrous 2011-12 season, finishing last in the Eastern Conference with 78 points. He quickly set about rebuilding the organization, focusing on establishing a winning culture. His tenure saw the Canadiens achieve a regular-season record of 344-265-81, with six playoff appearances in nine full seasons, including three division titles and a memorable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. This playoff run, fueled by stellar goaltending from Carey Price and leadership from captain Shea Weber, was the team’s first Cup Final appearance since 1993 and a high point of Bergevin’s legacy.

Bergevin made several notable roster moves that bolstered the team:
Trades: One of his best moves was acquiring defenseman Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers in 2015 for second- and fourth-round picks, a deal that proved to be a steal as Petry became a cornerstone of the defense. Trading Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann to Chicago for Phillip Danault and a second-round pick (used to draft Alexander Romanov) was another shrewd move. The 2018 trade of Max Pacioretty to Vegas for Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar, and a second-round pick (later flipped for prospects like Mattias Norlinder) is also viewed as a long-term win, with Suzuki emerging as a key part of the franchise’s future.

Signings: Bergevin claimed Paul Byron off waivers from Calgary in 2015, who developed into a reliable two-time 20-goal scorer. Signing Tyler Toffoli to a four-year, $17 million contract in 2020 provided solid depth scoring.

Coaching and Management: Bergevin hired Michel Therrien for a second stint as head coach in 2012, a move that initially paid off with a 103-55-16 record from 2012-15, ranking third in the East during that period. He also brought in experienced staff like Rick Dudley, Scott Mellanby, and Martin Lapointe to strengthen the front office. In 2021, Bergevin’s decision to replace Claude Julien with interim coach Dominique Ducharme helped spark the team’s playoff run.

Awards: Bergevin was a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award three times (2013, 2014, and 2021), finishing second in 2014 and 2021, a testament to his impact.

Challenges and Criticisms
Despite these successes, Bergevin’s tenure was criticized for a lack of consistent long-term vision, contributing to a decline in performance from 2017-21, with a .495 point percentage compared to .609 from 2012-17. Key criticisms include:

Draft Record: Bergevin’s draft picks were inconsistent. High selections like Alex Galchenyuk (2012, 3rd overall) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2018, 3rd overall) did not pan out as expected, with both leaving the organization early. Only one of his first seven first-round picks (Ryan Poehling) remained with the team by 2021, and the trade of promising defenseman Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin in 2017 was widely panned, especially as Sergachev won two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay.

Controversial Trades: The 2016 trade of P.K. Subban for Shea Weber was a defining and polarizing moment. While Weber provided leadership and stability, the trade was seen by some as a misstep due to Subban’s elite skill and younger age, compounded by Therrien’s subsequent firing, which undermined the rationale for the deal. The loss of Andrei Markov and Alexander Radulov in 2017, followed by signing Karl Alzner to a five-year, $23 million contract (later bought out), further weakened the defense.

2021 Offseason Struggles: After the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, Bergevin’s offseason was disastrous. Key losses included Phillip Danault to free agency, Carey Price to injury and the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, and Shea Weber to long-term injury, effectively ending his career. The Hurricanes’ offer sheet for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, which Bergevin did not match, was seen as payback for his 2019 offer sheet to Sebastian Aho.

Team Performance: The 2021-22 season started with a historically poor 6-15-2 record, placing Montreal 29th in the NHL standings, a stark contrast to the prior year’s playoff success. The team struggled without Price and Weber, ranking second in goals against (3.61 per game), 30th on the power play (12.9%), and 28th in goals for (2.35).

Legacy and Departure
Bergevin’s tenure ended abruptly on November 28, 2021, when he was fired along with assistant GM Trevor Timmins and senior vice president Paul Wilson, following the team’s poor start. Jeff Gorton was hired as executive vice president of hockey operations, signaling a shift in leadership. Bergevin’s legacy is a mixed bag: his supporters highlight the 2021 Stanley Cup Final run, key acquisitions like Petry and Suzuki, and his ability to navigate Montreal’s high-pressure environment. Critics point to his spotty draft record, questionable trades, and failure to build a consistent contender, with only one Conference Final (2014) and one Cup Final appearance in nine years.

Posts on X reflect divided sentiment. Some fans and analysts credit Bergevin for keeping the Canadiens competitive without a full rebuild, citing his trade successes and the 2021 playoff run. Others argue his emotional decisions, like retaining underperforming veterans, and lack of a clear rebuilding strategy hindered long-term success. After his firing, Bergevin joined the Los Angeles Kings as a special advisor, indicating his continued relevance in the NHL despite a controversial exit from Montreal.

In summary, Bergevin’s time as Canadiens GM was a roller-coaster of bold moves, playoff highs, and strategic missteps, leaving a legacy that is both celebrated and scrutinized.

- Grok :D
 
The Hawks seem to be getting a bit desperate to surround Bedard with better talent so I could easily see them throw around 14m x 7 Marner's way.
They need Newhook. he is talent. So is Matheson. Lots of talent. :D

Lol... I can't believe anyone would pay marner 14M. it's insane. and stupid.
 
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:) such a shame he didn't just stick with us.

we could have won it all.

Oh well.. I am sure the isles will do well with...

Marc Bergevin​


bleh.


Any Habs fans here who want to give me the details on his time as a GM? the good, the bad, the ugly?
This is all based on his last tenure here and not what he currently is today (no idea as I haven't followed him with the Kings/don't know any of his responsibilities.

The good:

He makes trades. Like, a lot of them.

He is not scared to make unpopular decisions with both the fans and the guys on the team. This is good because, sometimes, you need to. But it will probably piss you off in certain scenarios.

-- Two that come to mind that were good in our case was jettisoning Scott Gomez the first year he got here, and then Karl Alzner when it became clear he was terrible (though he signed Alzner in the first place.... so do with that what you will).

Loyal to his guys, makes them want to go through a wall for him.

Can squeeze a lot out of bad teams.

Made a creative move or two to try to help the team (signed Radulov out of the KHL out of nowhere)

The Bad

The guy has no real plan. Or he does, but he doesn't take steps to follow through on that plan in a productive way.

-- Example here: He wanted to 'build through the draft'. What we thought that meant was we were going to draft some great prospects, develop them properly, insert them into our ranks and become competitive. What he meant (or did) was never trade a first round pick ever and that's it. Not even to bolster the team when we were in first. We barely developed anyone (look at our list of 1st round picks from 2012 until 2021 and see how many are still with the team).

He favours guys that play the game the way he did, aka not skilled and journeyman like. He loves his bottom six guys/bottom D and will absolutely play hardball with the stars for no real reason.

His fire coach hire here was Michel Therrien. Make of that what you will on his judgement.

As I mentioned above, he will not trade first rounders. This can be good or bad but if you want to bolster your team at any point, you'll have to settle for depth guys and meatheads.
 
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Holy shit, what is that Leafs slogan?



At least "No Excuses" was logical.

Toronto Maple Leafs:
-No Grit
-No Grind
-No Greatness

is how we describe the Laffs.

I didn't realize the No Grit. No Grind. No Greatness was written on the panel in the image until I looke at it a 2nd time.

This is actually hilarious, it's not what they meant with it, but it's what they got!
 
The injury excuse seems to pop up for Matthews every spring when he underperforms. The media PR game is strong around him, which kind of reminds me of the job the French media did when protecting a useless Bergevin.

Matthews has been a disappointment every year and needs to go along with Marner, both are equally poisoning for that roster.

He seems to have a chronic wrist injury. Hilarious memes aside, he went to Germany for some reason mid-season. Guesses are wrist, maybe tendinitis.

LeBrun believes that Marner is going to get more than $13 million when he signs as a UFA



I wonder if Colorado signs him? He'd look good with MacKinnon and Landeskog. They'd have to move Necas to sign him. He wouldn't get more than MacKinnon though so he'd have come down to $12.5m.
 
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:) such a shame he didn't just stick with us.

we could have won it all.

Oh well.. I am sure the isles will do well with...

Marc Bergevin​


bleh.


Any Habs fans here who want to give me the details on his time as a GM? the good, the bad, the ugly?
He was here for ten years so you’ll have a lot of different perspectives based on what different things people choose to emphasize.

Some will call his tenure an absolute disaster. Others will call it successful.

One thing is certain: No one will mistake him for a brilliant person.

I think his tendency is actually best described as anti-intellectualism; he’s a man who goes with his gut because he feels like he has a certain sense of a team and of the sport. It might be what the Isles need, I dunno.

Another thing is hard to debate: he makes himself the centre of attention (Possibly on purpose “to protect” the coach and the team).
 
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