Bergevin: 'I tried to do what was right for the organization'

BROSSARD - With another NHL trade deadline having come and gone, general manager Marc Bergevin took the podium to assess his recent moves and give an update on the state of the franchise.

The Canadiens weren't involved in any blockbusters on Monday. But on top of sending forwards Nate Thompson, Nick Cousins, and Matthew Peca elsewhere for draft picks and a prospect, the Habs did deal a big name away when they sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

For Bergevin, it was a trade that benefited both the Russian sniper and the team.
"Kovy wanted a chance to win the Stanley Cup this year. His choice was to go to Washington," shared Bergevin of the 36-year-old, who scored six goals for 13 points in 22 games in Montreal. "We worked together and we made a trade that was good for the player, but also for the organization. Trading Kovy to a place he wouldn't have liked was not in my plans. I tried to do what was right for the organization."

The Habs got a third-round pick coming back the other way. And while some were happy with the return - Kovalchuk was not playing in the NHL when the club signed him to a one-year, two-way deal on January 3 - others felt the team could've held out for more on the trade market for the former first-overall draft pick.
Bergevin acknowledged there might've been better offers around the corner, but felt that a bird in hand was worth two in the bush.
"If [the better deal] is a 'maybe not' and you walk away from something you have for sure, then the next day, maybe you don't get something as good, or maybe that team is [no longer interested," he explained.

The Habs general manager also addressed the situations of Tomas Tatar and Jeff Petry, two key pieces of the roster who are slated to become unrestricted free agents after 2020-21.
There was talk on the rumor mill of the Canadiens dealing one or both, given the likelihood they would yield a substantial return on this year's deadline market, but Bergevin affirmed that he is not throwing in the towel on the team nucleus he's assembled.
"In general, we still feel that we are competing right now," he said. "The guys we moved, most of the time were on the fourth line or were in and out of the lineup.
"Our core hasn't changed, and the guys I feel will help us keep fighting for a playoff spot, and moving forward next year, are still on the team."

Fully aware of the risks that come with hanging onto a player on an expiring contract, Bergevin added that he'd reassess some of those players' situations after negotiations begin in the summer, but that the time for making moves, in their case, was not now.
"There are players on our team I feel are very hard to replace. In July, I'll go to some of these players and see if an extension is possible," outlined the GM. "If not, at some point it's either I make the decision that we go one more year, or I make changes. But it's too early to tell you that."
Doubling down on development
With Montreal on the outside of the playoff picture looking in and dealing away veterans for futures, it's clear that Bergevin's focus is on development, and he pointed to a certain first-year Hab who's currently tied for third in the rookie scoring race as an example of why.
"Nick Suzuki is becoming a very good hockey player. We gave a lot to get him, but we're sure happy and we think he's going to be here for a long time. That's what we need to do, and these guys need to grow together and become good players," outlined Bergevin. "It's going to take time, but I know we're on the right track."
Other youngsters in the system that come to mind in a similar light include Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ryan Poehling, Cayden Primeau and Jake Evans; Evans was called up to Montreal on Monday several hours after Thompson was dealt away.

But while Kotkaniemi, Poehling, and Primeau remain in Laval for the moment - Bergevin would not rule out bringing them back up at some point in 2019-20 - their being with the Rocket for the time being fits in exactly with the plan he's put together for their progression.
"It's important that Cayden Primeau plays a lot of games in Laval to continue his development. It's important that Ryan Poehling plays big minutes. They have a hard time some nights, but Joel Bouchard continues to put them on the ice," explained Bergevin. "Developing our young players is more important than [the Rocket] making the playoffs. In an ideal world, we could do both."
Making home 'sweet' again
With the Habs six points out of third place in the Atlantic division and eight points back of the final Wild Card position, there are a variety of factors that led to their current standing, but Bergevin would like to see improvement in one particular area at the very least: the team's play at the Bell Centre.
"One thing I did not like is us being inconsistent, especially at home. For example, if we would've won the game in Boston [on February 12], our road record would've been the same as the Boston Bruins," noted Bergevin. "We're a good road team, because Boston is a pretty good team. We're winning on the road, but why can't we win at home? We need to be better at home."
Confidence in the coaches
That said, Bergevin expressed full confidence in his coaching staff and the work they've put in throughout the campaign, declaring without equivocation that they're all on the same page when it comes to philosophy and outlook.
"I think they've worked really hard, and the message has been the same and it's what I believe in," described the GM of head coach Claude Julien and his assistants. "We need to be committed for 60 minutes, pay attention to details, and be more consistent. That's what I believe, and that's the message they've been telling the players."
He was also pleased with the way the 2020 deadline played out for the Habs, asserting that he maximized the haul he got in exchange for the players he dealt away on Monday.
"I don't believe in losing or winning [on deadline day]. If teams are selling at the deadline, they're not where they want to be because you like to be a buyer, if possible. But based on that, the assets we were able to get in return, I'm happy with what we've done today," he concluded.