Quotes of the day: Toffoli & Bergevin

MONTREAL - The Canadiens signed free-agent forward Tyler Toffoli to a four-year contract on Monday. The following day, Toffoli met with the Montreal media via Zoom for the first time, and general manager Marc Bergevin also answered questions about the deal on Tuesday.
Read on for highlights of what they had to say:

Toffoli's reasons for deciding on locking in with the Habs for the next four seasons:
"There were a couple teams, which is a good thing. My decision on coming to Montreal: just knowing the fan base and how passionate they are, and you look at the players on the team and what they've done this offseason already with who they've added to what I already think is a good team. It's a really exciting time to be Canadien.

"When I was with LA, I heard my name that Montreal wanted me, so that definitely helped my decision a little bit - knowing that I was wanted previously."
On the prospect of playing with centers Phillip Danault, Nick Suzuki, and/or Jesperi Kotkaniemi:
"I think I'll fit in great with any of them. The skill they all showed, especially throughout the playoffs, was impressive. And that was definitely one of the deciding factors of why I wanted to be in Montreal, because I would have the opportunity to be playing with one of those guys."
Listed as a right wing, Toffoli talks about the possibility of being used on the left:
"I've played right wing most of my career, but there have been times throughout where I've played on the left and things worked out. I'm willing to play either side and whatever is best to help the team and make us all more successful.

"We had a little bit of discussion and I was asked if I'd be willing to give [playing on the left] a try. I said that if I were to come here, I'd be willing to do whatever and wherever they feel fit and where we'd have the best chemistry, I'd be willing to do. So we'll see what happens."
On the pressure of playing in the Montreal market:
"It's a really exciting time. Leaving LA and going to Vancouver, I feel like I got a little bit of a taste with the pressure and with the market. But Montreal is a different animal, and it's exciting. You want to thrive in these moments, and I'm really excited for the opportunity. I want to be a guy you can go to and score a big goal or make a play at the right moment."

On his defensive game, and on using his championship experience (Toffoli won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014) to help guide his new Canadiens teammates to a title:
"That's one thing I take pride in for myself. Entering the League with LA, that the way that we played... if you didn't play the right way, then you weren't going to play at all. So that's kind of one of those things I try and bring throughout everywhere I've been going. I feel like everybody sees that now.
"When you play the right way, that's how you win games. You might not score every night, but if you're laying the right way and you're winning games, there's no better feeling. Winning the Stanley Cup, it truly is the best feeling. I would want to get back to that level, help bring these young guys along, and bring a Stanley Cup to Montreal."
Bergevin on why he wanted to bring Toffoli to Montreal:
"Yes, we had had internal discussions about Tyler. What I like about him is that he's a player who has won the Stanley Cup, who can play all the positions - on the right, on the left - on the power play, he kills penalties, and he brings leadership. So we're bringing in a guy with experience to our group of young player, and I also see a player who can produce offensively."

The Habs GM acknowledged he had four needs he wanted to fill on his offseason checklist: a backup goalie, a defenseman with size, a power forward, and goal-scoring. Bergevin on the Canadiens' ability to address those needs and how everything came together:
"With everything available, we made some big changes, we brought [size and offensive production]. We had four boxes to check, and we did it. As a whole, we're satisfied with our team today and, even though we don't know when the season will start yet, we're very excited and I hope our fans are, too.
"If Carolina decided to keep Joel Edmundson and Vancouver had re-signed Tyler Toffoli, we wouldn't have this team. So there's a bit of luck there, too. I didn't raise my hand one morning last month and say, 'Today, I'm going to do this.' It happened that way. Some things fell into place, and we took advantage when we had he chance. There were some things we had wanted to do in the past that we weren't able to. You could say that since we finished in Toronto, the puzzle pieces have fallen into place."
Bergevin on Montreal exceeding the salary cap with the Toffoli signing and his plans for addressing the issue in time for the season:
"We've established some scenarios that would put us under the salary cap. So for the time being, there isn't a problem. For sure, it'll probably be a bit more difficult to have 23 players on the roster, but we'll see when the time comes."