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Marc Bergevin and the Islanders: never has a former GM of the Canadiens become a GM again in the NHL

Would you like a good one?

If Marc Bergevin gets the GM job with the New York Islanders, as he’s tipped to do, he’ll become the first former GM of the Canadiens to land another GM job elsewhere in the NHL after his stint in Montreal.

You read that correctly.

Kent Hughes is the 18th GM in the club’s history, and the first 17 never (apart from Marc Bergevin?) managed to find a similar job elsewhere in the National Hockey League.

Chat GPT verified the information and even came up with a dramatic phrase to conclude his research.

Being GM of the Canadiens seems to be a pinnacle… but also the end of a career as GM in the NHL. – GPT Chat

The crazy thing is, of the original six teams, the Habs are the only organization in such a boat. The other five clubs have seen at least one former GM step back into a top executive position.

In (very) recent history, Kyle Dubas (Toronto), Peter Chiarelli (Boston), Ken Holland (Detroit), Stan Bowman (Blackhawks) and Jeff Gorton (New York, if you count the VP title in Montreal) are names that have returned to top management positions.

Good thing the Oilers are here to hire the same guys…

But there’s more to it than just getting a job. The Penguins went all out to hire Dubas. Everyone wants Gorton, even though he’s currently in Montreal. The Oilers hired Bowman despite the 2010 controversy. Holland is in his second position after Detroit…

But why is it different in Montreal?

Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is language. Over the years, the Habs have often hired Francophones, and that must be an important aspect.

Has the Habs ever been “forced” to hire someone other than the one at the top of the list, in order to respect the French language in the city? It begs the question, in any case.

The fact that Jeff Gorton, an English-speaking American, has been in demand in the National League for the past few years is a good indication of this.

But hey. What’s important for the Habs is that they currently have recognized leaders who are doing a good job on the heels of the first really big rebuild in the club’s history.

And above all, despite all the managers of the past who haven’t put their feet up, the Habs still have 24 Stanley Cup titles and have never missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons in their history. #Notable

overtime

– No surprises.

– Interesting.

– What do you think?

– Read more.

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Cayden Primeau in net tonight in Laval

The Rocket’s goaltending rotation continues.

As the Rocket return to action tonight at Place Bell in Laval, we learn that Cayden Primeau will have the mandate to defend the net against the Americans.

Pascal Vincent was right yesterday: there will be a goalie in front of the net. #Hehe

Not surprisingly, Primeau, who has been Vincent’s go-to guy in general in 2025, is back in front of the net. After all, he played Game #1 of the series against Rochester and won.

Jacob Fowler lost game #2. And while both did well, the rotation dictated that Primeau was eligible to get his chance again.

Did the Rocket coach make the right decision? It’s safe to assume that Primeau, who is too strong for the AHL, will be able to give his team a chance to win tonight’s game at home.

But we’ll see. And, above all, we’ll see who plays in Game #4.

Remember that on the heels of the division final, the Rocket and Americans are tied 1-1 in the series. The last three games (that’s 3-of-5) will take place in Laval tonight, Friday and (if necessary) Sunday.

The Rocket’s chances are good, but the Amerks also have a good club. Don’t underestimate them.

Looking ahead to today’s game, we’ll be keeping an eye on whether Laurent Dauphin, who signed a contract extension to stay in Laval recently, will be able to play tonight.

He didn’t practice this morning.

overtime

– Good listening.

– Florian Xhekaj learns from his brother. [JdeM]

– This will help.

– To read.

– I’m not surprised.

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Ivan Demidov has (already) started skating again in Brossard

When Ivan Demidov arrived in North America, he saw Lane Hutson take him under his wing. And Hutson is a guy who doesn’t really like to take days off.

Demidov, who also seems to have a passion for hockey, learned from the best. And that’s a good thing for the future, let’s face it.

And already, with the Habs out of the running for just a few weeks, Ivan Demidov has been spotted skating in Brossard in preparation for the summer.

As can be seen via the videos that come from riendeaustephanie4, who filmed Demidov while he was skating, Demidov didn’t waste any time before getting back into practice in preparation for next season.

No one would have blamed him for taking a few weeks off.

In fact, he’s with Adam Nicholas, which is a good sign. Seeing him stay in Montreal to work with the Canadiens’ staff is proof of how serious the youngster is.

And that’s good for the club’s future.

Let’s not forget that in the last few days, Demidov had taken time out for a vacation in the sun. But now, after filling up on energy, he’s back in town for the rest of his off-season.

So, obviously, he’s not in Russia at the moment.

Now that Demidov has seen what it takes to play in the NHL, he’ll be able to prepare well for what’s to come. Because, as you know, expectations will be high for him in 2025-2026.

If he practices hard and Kent Hughes finds him a second center… watch out for other teams, as it could be dangerous on the ice next campaign.

overtime

– Enjoy.

– Read more.

– Possible.

– I can imagine.

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Marc Bergevin and Patrick Roy: things didn’t go so well in 2012

As you’re no doubt aware, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Marc Bergevin will be given a senior position in hockey operations with the New York Islanders.

His name has been circulating in the hockey world for some time now.

He wasn’t the Islanders’ first choice (Jeff Gorton and Ken Holland, who ironically took the job in Los Angeles, were the favorites) in all this, but what’s important here for him is the result.

There are plenty of questions to be asked about the first decisions Bergevin will make as head of the Islanders – especially considering the franchise’s questionable future. But the first big issue will be Patrick Roy.

Will the Islanders coach keep his job? Who knows?

After all, it’s often been said that Bergevin and Roy don’t have the best of relationships. And this morning, on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie confirmed it all.

In 2012, when Bergevin was interviewing for the Canadiens coaching job (which was eventually given to Michel Therrien), Roy was interviewed. And things didn’t go well between the two men, as Lavoie pointed out – and as Gilbert Delorme confirmed.

Is it all water under the bridge, and will Roy’s multi-year contract with the Islanders work in his favor to keep his job? Or will Bergevin want to bring in his man?

If I had to bet, I’d say Bergevin will want to bring in his man.

When Bergevin took over as GM in Montreal, he had a coach to choose from and he didn’t inherit a man already in place. This is undoubtedly what he wants for New York.

Especially since he’s no longer obliged to hire a francophone. In fact, I wonder if Luke Richardson might be in the running for the coaching job, should Bergevin really get the job and decide to make a change.

It’s also worth noting, by the way, that Lou Lamoriello always had a good relationship with Bergevin when he was GM. Renaud Lavoie added as much in his radio column of the day.

And since the old Lou will still have his say in New York… this undoubtedly helped the Québécois’ cause.

oVERTIME

– 13 straight losses in the Eastern finals for the Hurricanes. After the 2006 epic, they were swept aside in 2009, 2019 and 2023. And yesterday, they lost.

– Wow.

– Coming up.

– Indeed.

– William Nylander arrives just in time for the elimination round. Poor Swede… #Hey

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Series wrap-up: Panthers make short work of Hurricanes

Two years ago, the Hurricanes and Panthers met in the Eastern final.

Two years later, after a sweep of Florida, Carolina tried to avoid a similar outcome.

But in the first game of the series, mission failed. Final score: 5-2 Panthers, who lead the series 1-0.

(Credit: NHL.com)

Florida broke the ice early in the first.

Carter Verhaeghe found the back of the net.

And Aaron Ekblad did the same moments later to double his team’s lead.

Sebastian Aho closed the gap afterwards.

Quite a controversial goal, thank you.

The visitors scored the next three goals, en route to an easy 5-2 victory.

The rest of the series promises to be exciting and very physical.

Andrei Svechnikov will be in danger of being broken up soon because of this gesture towards Sergei Bobrovsky.

It’s quite similar to Sam Bennett’s gesture towards Anthony Stolarz.

Brad Marchand and Shayne Gostisbehere had their work cut out for them.

Gostisbehere seemed to throw the puck directly to the forward.

The Canes defender was roughed up by two opposing players late in the game.

Don’t touch Marchand!

The next game in this series will be played tomorrow, again in Carolina.

Extension

– Lane Hutson is no longer the leading rookie scorer in the series.

– Scorers of the match:

  • Tomas Nosek 2 points
  • Evan Rodrigues 2 points
  • Carter Verhaeghe 2 points
  • Seth Jarvis 2 points
  • Aleksander Barkov 1 point
  • Sam Bennett 1 point
  • Aaron Ekblad 1 point
  • Gustav Forsling 1 point
  • A.J. Greer 1 point
  • Eetu Luostarinen 1 point
  • Niko Mikkola 1 point
  • Matthew Tkachuk 1 point
  • Sebastian Aho 1 point
  • Jackson Blake 1 point
  • Shayne Gostisbehere 1 point
  • Andrei Svechnikov 1 point

– The Oilers and Stars begin their series tonight in Dallas.

(Credit: NHL.com)
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Mitch Marner: no, just because he’s a winger doesn’t mean the Habs should forget him

Mitch Marner will most likely be free as a bird on July 1. The Maple Leafs forward, who has just seen his team slip out of the playoffs once again, was loudly booed by his own fans during his last game in the team colors.

Not exactly the best way to convince a budding free agent to stay.

The question, then, is where Marner will end up. He’s going to be the most sought-after free agent on the market… and he’s going to sign for a lot of money.

In Montreal, we know that the club is looking for offensive punch. But Jonathan Bernier, writing for TVA Sports, doesn’t see the Habs being interested, not least because Marner isn’t a center.

And we know how much the sacrosanct second center is needed in Montreal.

But in my opinion, this argument isn’t really an argument at all, for one simple reason: Marner is one of the few wingers who can almost act as a center. He’s an excellent playmaker and very responsible defensively.

I’m not saying that Kent Hughes should go all-in on Marner, far from it: he probably needs to go to a market where there’s less pressure, and he can forget about that in Montreal. That said, the club needs offensive punch, and if it’s going to come from the wing, so be it.

As Jeff Gorton said in his end-of-season press briefing, the Habs’ solution doesn’t have to come from a center. It may also involve a winger who can take charge.

Because if the club absolutely wants a center, it won’t have an option of Marner’s caliber. Brian Wilde is right when he says that John Tavares is one of the Habs’ best options… and he’s nowhere near Marner’s caliber.

I’ll say it again: I don’t see Marner getting along with the Habs. That said, I don’t see him signing with the Habs because I see him preferring a lower-pressure environment and because I don’t see Kent Hughes offering him $13-14 million a year.

But no, the fact that he’s a winger shouldn’t enter into the equation… because it’s much more complex than that.

Overtime

– Do you agree?

– Auston Matthews has been injured all season. [NHL.com]

– Montreal CF locker room echoes.

– Indeed.

– He becomes easier to trade.

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Pascal Vincent: Kyle Dubas is interested in coaching in the AHL

Pascal Vincent had an incredible year at the helm of the Laval Rocket. The club’s head coach led the Rocket to first place in the AHL standings… and was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

Not bad for a coach who wondered if he still wanted to practice before coming to town.

And inevitably, seeing a coach with a track record in the AHL makes him a logical candidate for an NHL job. His year in Columbus wasn’t easy… but he wasn’t placed in the right conditions.

And Kyle Dubas, who is looking for a coach in Pittsburgh, made an interesting statement to Josh Yohe(The Athletic):

There are coaches in the AHL who are still in the playoffs and who are interested in our position. – Kyle Dubas.

Our colleagues at HabsolumentFan also reported the news.

Of course, it’s logical to think that Vincent might be on the list. His achievements in Laval this year have put him on the map, and he’s one of those coaches who’s always in the playoffs in the AHL.

That said, in the same interview, Dubas also noted that he’d like to have a coach in place by June 1… and that’s interesting, because the Rocket will finish their series against the Americans on May 25, before starting a new one if they win two of their next three games.

If Dubas wants Vincent, therefore, he’d better hope the Rocket get eliminated by Sunday, otherwise he’ll have to abandon the idea of hiring the Rocket’s coach, who doesn’t want to go through lengthy interviews and be really involved in such a process between now and his club’s elimination.

We’ll keep an eye on how all this develops… but if the Rocket wants to increase its chances of keeping its coach, winning two of the next three games would probably close the door on Pittsburgh for Vincent.

To be continued.

Overtime

– Interesting.

– Whew.

– Ah well.

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“He’s going to get another job”: Luc Robitaille seems to be getting away with Marc Bergevin

Last night, we learned that the race for Islanders GM would be a two-man (Québécois) one: Marc Bergevin and Mathieu Darche. We’re talking about two guys with very different profiles… but who have, each in their own way, proven themselves.

Bergevin did it for 10 years in Montreal, while Darche has been working with Julien BriseBois for years. BriseBois has never been a GM, but is very much involved in Tampa Bay.

And in the last few hours, David Ettedgui has said that Bergevin will get a job with the Islanders, either as VP hockey or GM. The team hasn’t announced anything yet, but there’s a lot of talk about it.

And tonight, Kings president Luc Robitaille was on JiC, where he talked about Bergevin, who is still employed by his club. But what’s interesting is when he talked about the future of the former Habs GM… and said this:

He’s going to have another job [as an executive]. – Luc Robitaille

Robitaille, who says he didn’t hire Bergevin to replace Rob Blake simply because Ken Holland was available (Bergevin would have been happy to hear that, by the way), is truly confident that Bergevin will eventually get a new job at the helm of a team… and that he’ll be great in that chair.

And to hear him say such things when Bergevin’s name is being bandied about on Long Island, it’s almost as if he knows something.

That said, Robitaille also mentions in the interview that Bergevin “is going to learn from Ken Holland”. One wonders if he said this to try to pull himself together after saying a bit too much, though… but maybe he meant it too.

And maybe Bergevin really will learn from Holland… for a few days before he gets a job on Long Island, hehe.

Overtime

– That’s not ideal for the Panthers.

– Scott Morrow will be in uniform for the Hurricanes tonight. Injured Jalen Chatfield will not.

– Happy listening.

– He’s not slowing down.

– We wish them well.

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Lane Hutson still leads rookies in playoff points

Nick Suzuki may have had the best season by a Canadiens player in 2024-2025, but Lane Hutson wasn’t far behind.

For the defenseman, his rookie season was a surprise.

After 82 games, you had to wonder whether he’d continue to dominate in the playoffs. It soon became clear that the answer was “yes”.

In five games, he collected five assists.

To this day, he’s the rookie with the most points in the playoffs, tied with Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven, two Hurricanes players who played twice as many games (10) as Hutson (five).

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Still pretty impressive when you think about it.

Barring a miracle, the Habs defenseman isn’t expected to finish the playoffs with the most points among rookies, as Blake and Stankoven still have four games (at least) to play.

Another Habs player is among the top scorers in the rookie series. Ivan Demidov has two points and is tied for sixth with Oskar Back (Stars), who has played eight games.

The future looks bright for Montreal, and even if the club only survived five games against the best regular-season team in the East, it was a fine season overall.

Suzuki reached the point-per-game plateau, Cole Caufield reached the 70-point plateau, Ivan Demidov played seven late-season games and Lane Hutson will probably win the Calder.

And let’s not forget the meteoric rise of Kaiden Guhle, Jakub Dobes and Juraj Slafkovsky.

Oh, and let’s not forget that David Reinbacher, Michael Hage, Jacob Fowler and the two first-round picks (if kept) will be joining the team in the near future.

This is definitely the best time to be a fan of the team in a long time.

Overtime

– I’d rather not think about it.

– Ah well.

– Absolument.

– Sad.

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World Championship: Mike Matheson with stop of the year

This afternoon, Canada played their biggest match of the preliminary phase.

At stake: first place in Group A.

And thanks to a 5-3 victory, the Canadiens came out on top.

They finished with a record of six wins and one overtime loss at the hands of the Finns a few hours ago.

Mike Matheson hasn’t had a great tournament so far, with just two assists in seven games, but today he shone defensively.

He stole a goal from a Swedish opponent.

Look at that!

In addition to Matheson, Macklin Celebrini shone in the Canadiens victory.

He scored the winning goal, and what a goal it was!

What a player!

The Sharks’ center finished the preliminary phase with six points in seven games.

The nation’s top scorer is Nathan MacKinnon. Again today, he collected three points, for a total of 13 in seven games.

The unifolies will cross swords with Denmark, carried by a former Habs pick, who have just beaten the Germans to advance to the medal round.

The quarter-finals will be held on Thursday, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday and the finals (for gold and bronze) on Sunday.

Here are the other confrontations:

Overtime

– Hat.

– Great news!

– Great news.