Marc Bergevin, Canadiens general manager since 2012, with owner Geoff Molson.
In 1957, when Sen. Hartland de Montarville Molson and Thomas Molson bought the Canadiens, Hartland said, "We don't own the Canadiens, really. The public of Montreal, in fact the entire province of Quebec, owns the Canadiens. This club is more than a professional sports organization. It is an institution -- a way of life." You've often spoken about the public trust of owning this team. No matter that the Canadiens are a massive business whose scope your family never could have imagined, is this still a bit of a guiding principle?
"Our internal theme that we don't necessarily advertise but we say to each other is, 'We are the team of the people.' That's an important statement. Times have changed. In the old days, before I was around, we'd hear about players going to a tavern or restaurant and everyone saying hello. It's harder for players nowadays. Media, selfies being taken … it's entirely possible that someone is taking a picture of us having lunch right now. Your privacy is not quite the same as it was. It's harder for players.
"What we want to accomplish is to bring our players as close as we can to our fans because, ultimately, we are the team of the people. The more the fans love and support our team, the better our players will feel performing. It's a high-pressure environment in Montreal, which comes with great exposure and risky exposure as well.
"A guy like Max Domi is made for a market like Montreal because he turns pressure into positive energy and does things that are very impressive in the community. Not only marching in Montreal's (August) Pride Parade, but he's also involved with other efforts, such as diabetes education and support."