Bergevin: Taking pride in his players' success

CHICAGO - Following Saturday's practice at MB Ice Arena, general manager Marc Bergevin fielded questions from members of the media on a variety of topics.

With the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship on the horizon, the status of young gun Jesperi Kotkaniemi was a focal point of the conversation.
As it stands, it appears that the 18-year-old Finn won't be representing his country in British Columbia in a couple of weeks as he continues to impress with the Canadiens.
"I would say the chances are slim that he goes to the Worlds, but I'm not going to close the door on that," affirmed Bergevin, on the third-overall selection at the 2018 NHL Draft. "Overall, he's been progressing, and when he has a tough night, he usually bounces back. That's a sign for us that's really positive."

Bergevin has been nothing but impressed by the way Kotkaniemi has gone about his business so far this season, earning the right to remain with the big club and continue to improve under head coach Claude Julien's watch.
"His hockey sense is excellent. We all see his passes sometimes, and you say, "Wow!" His IQ is high, and I don't think it will go down after the holidays," mentioned Bergevin, who indicated that Kotkaniemi continues to be evaluated on a daily basis. "He's growing in maturity. I think he deserves to be here. He's earned his spot in the lineup. He's done excellent work up until now."
Likewise, the stellar play of Max Domi up the middle has Bergevin smiling bright.
"As a centerman, it's a tough job. But Max down low, he's quick on loose pucks and he competes hard, he comes back hard and he puts on a lot of backside pressure," praised Bergevin. "He wants to win and he wants to make a difference. When we made the trade, we knew he would thrive in a hockey market. He not only said it, but he's proving it now."

He definitely is, leading the Canadiens offensively with 30 points (13g - 17a) through 29 games during the 2018-19 campaign.
And, his chemistry with a rejuvenated Jonathan Drouin really is off the charts.
Bergevin is pleased to see that the two have forged a productive partnership and are thriving as linemates at both ends of the ice.
"Jo's been night and day for me compared to last year," stressed Bergevin. "The way he's competing this year, the way him and Max are playing together, they have passion, they compete hard. I'm really proud of the way they're playing."

With respect to newcomer Brett Kulak, Bergevin believes his acquisition to be one with serious potential.
He has high hopes for the 24-year-old blueliner, who has already suited up for seven games since being recalled from the AHL's Laval Rocket.
"He was playing in the NHL last year, so it's not like I got a guy from the ECHL. He was an NHL defenseman," explained Bergevin. "Our scouting staff liked him because of the way the game is going. He's a good skater, and spending time in Laval with Joel and his staff, watching tape from last year and this year, he's different. Even though Laval might not be in first place, they're doing some good things, and Kulak is proof is that."
In terms of Kulak being a "different" player, Bergevin specified that certain aspects of his game have shown significant improvement.
"He's got more poise with the puck. He's skating better with the puck. He's always been a good skater, but I think in the past he would get rid of the puck quicker," said Bergevin. "I think he has more patience now, and I think his gap is really good."
As for Kulak's current playing partner, captain Shea Weber, Bergevin is delighted to have him back at full-strength - as is the rest of the group, of course.
"He puts everyone in the right chair," noted Bergevin. "Jeff Petry has less tough minutes. I think he did excellent work before Shea came back. Playing with Brett Kulak, he makes his job easier. Everyone is more comfortable when you bring Shea Weber into the lineup."

That even includes Carey Price, according to Bergevin.
"He's more confident. He's more aggressive. He's slowly getting back to what we expect of him," concluded Bergevin, on the subject of the six-time All-Star. "He's had good moments this season and some tough ones, too. Right now, I'm seeing that his confidence is rising. The arrival of Shea might have something to do with it, but I see a Carey that is improving more and more."