Author: Dose

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Marc Bergevin wanted to get people who leaked information out

Marc Bergevin’ s talk with Pierre LeBrun got him what he wanted: he can pass on his message to NHL owners about a possible return to the GM’s chair.

But the downside for him and those close to him? He’s back in the news – and not always for the right reasons.

This morning, on BPM Sports, Gilbert Delorme (a former Habs player) was particularly upset to see that Bergevin took three years to speak out… and that all this was done while avoiding the local media.

But stories do come out, of necessity.

Also on BPM Sports, Martin Leclerc talked about how the former Habs GM tried to have absolute control over everything that happened in his organization.

And after the “il ne veut pas parler aux médias francophones” narrative of the past few hours, the Radio-Canada journalist’s story isn’t going to help Bergevin buy himself any sympathy capital with French-speaking Habs fans who don’t like him.

I say this because Leclerc, who talks about Bergevin as a guy who was obsessed with controlling information, reports that French-speaking CH players were threatened with being “cal*ssed out” of the club by Bergevin if they were the source of information leaked to the media.

It was a meeting the francophones (not the anglophones) had with the GM before the start of a season.

Why just the francos? Did Bergevin feel they were more amenable to talking to the media? Maybe that was his way of seeing things.

Has this contributed to the fact that many Québécois, over the past few years, have chosen to sign elsewhere than with the Canadiens? Inevitably, the question must be asked.

Let’s just say it’s not a very flattering anecdote. It won’t encourage Bergevin to talk to the local media either – but that’s okay, since Leclerc’s mandate is not to hide these stories, but to get them out. And this is a very good one.

Overtime

– Oh well.

– Is Martin St-Louis the right coach for the Habs? Yes, says Arpon Basu. [TSN 690]

– Sidney Crosby opens up about the Penguins’ season.

– With good reason.

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Zach Hyman heads for a twelve-goal season

EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 29: Zach Hyman #18 of the Edmonton Oilers awaits a face-off during Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on May 29, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zach Hyman

To say that Zach Hyman has had an ordinary start to the season would be an understatement.

The Edmonton Oilers forward has just three goals in twenty games so far this season. At this rate, he’ll end the campaign with twelve goals, a far cry from last year’s 54.

In fact, even if we exclude his last season, the Toronto-born player is well below his usual output since joining the Oilers. He scored 27 and 36 goals in his first two campaigns with the team, in 76 and 79 games respectively.

The Edmonton club must be hoping for a breakthrough from its forward, as it could use a little more production up front, because with the exception of its two star forwards, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, none of them has more than five goals or more than ten points.

This is one of the reasons why the club has had a fairly ordinary start to the season, with 24 points in 22 games, good for fifth place in the Pacific Division, one point away from a playoff spot.

For a team that many predicted would reach the Stanley Cup Final, this is a rather disappointing first quarter of the campaign.

And with only three goals, the Oilers are paying dearly for Hyman, who signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the club in the summer of 2021. Although his contract only counts for 5.5 million on the salary cap, the forward will receive 7.7 million this year. That’s an expensive goal!

What’s more, his disappointing start to the season could cost him his place with Team Canadiens for the 4 Nations Confrontation. The man who many saw as part of Canada’s line-up could well see his position slip from his grasp.

One wonders whether the Canadiens will opt for Hyman’s natural chemistry with McDavid, or prefer a player with better stats. We should know shortly, as the final line-ups should be announced within the next few days.

However, it’s possible that Hyman has been playing with an injury for some time, as the Alberta club has just placed the player on the injured list without giving further details.

However, his absence should not be long.

Could this injury explain his slow start to the season? And could it jeopardize his place at the 4 Nations Confrontation?

An interesting case to follow!

Overtime

– Jiricek yes, but at what price?

– Slaf back?

– In Hyman’s absence.

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“I’m doing with the team Lou built”: Another arrow from Patrick Roy to Lamoriello

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If there’s one head coach in the NHL with a strong character, it’s Patrick Roy.

As we know, Roy is very intense behind the bench.

Add to that Lou Lamoriello as general manager, who’s even more intense than Roy, and you’ve got a pretty fiery combination.

Let’s face it, it was to be expected that it would flare up over time.

Even though both are still on the job, that doesn’t stop Roy from criticizing some of his GM’s decisions, as he did last month.

Now the former goalie has once again fired an arrow at Lamoriello:

“I love these guys. They work hard. They push their limits. This is the team Lou gave me and I’m going to work extremely hard for these guys.” – Patrick Roy

Well, he didn’t say it word for word (obviously), but it’s clear that Roy is going with what he’s got.

Things aren’t going well for the New York Islanders this season, who boast an 8-10-5 record, good for 27ᵉ place in the NHL (two spots ahead of the Habs).

Injuries haven’t helped them, as they currently make do without Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech and Anthony Duclair.

Duclair has played just 5 games this season, while Barzal and Pelech have played 10 and 11 games respectively.

Islanders fans are becoming increasingly impatient.

Two wins in the last nine games is a real turn-on.

In fact, at the last game, a loud “Fire Lou” chant was heard from the crowd.

Fans are calling for Lou Lamoriello’s dismissal and, logically, he has to go before Roy.

The coach is doing an excellent job with a decent team, but nothing more, and one that is also decimated by injuries.

Lamoriello has served his time as GM and it’s time to move on with the Islanders.

Overtime

– The legendary Jagr.

– Could Kappo Kakko be the solution to revive Kirby Dach?

– For baseball fans, there’s an excellent podcast to get your teeth into:

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Marc Bergevin still hasn’t spoken to a Montreal media outlet

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 23: General manager Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens attends the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at Bell Center on July 23, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)

For the first time since his dismissal in Montreal, Marc Bergevin opened up.

He gave a nice interview to Pierre LeBrun, who published an excellent text in connection with the former Habs GM’s comments.

Before continuing, I invite you to read the text in question:

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Bergevin talk to the media, because he has a more reserved role with the Kings.

That’s normal, because he works as a consultant to GM Rob Blake.

But even if he decided to confide in a Canadian journalist, it’s easy to see that Bergevin still hasn’t spoken to any Montreal media.

Pierre LeBrun speaks French, but most of his work is done in English for The Athletic and TSN.

That said, Jean-Nicolas Blanchet(TVA Sports) tried to speak to Bergevin when the Kings were in the province, but was never able to do so:

When he came with the Kings to Quebec City, we asked him for an interview. But no, we were told to forget it. It was ridiculous. – Jean-Nicolas Blanchet

It’s still special:

We know that Marc Bergevin found the media in Montreal intense.

And we know that he hasn’t always had an excellent relationship with the media.

On the other hand… I wonder if Pierre Gervais’ book also plays a role in all this.

Because let’s face it: the former Habs equipment manager didn’t go easy on the former GM in his first book. And we know that Gervais’ words have been heard around the province.

Gervais said the former GM didn’t command the respect of his players because of his teenage behavior, he said it got out of hand in Bergevin’s final years in Montreal… And we know Bergevin was criticized around town for the way he treated former Canadiens players.

I’m inclined to believe that Bergevin is aware of this. Maybe he hasn’t necessarily read the book or seen what Gervais had to say about him, but Marc Bergevin has family in Quebec and it’s certain that at some point, someone has spoken to him.

And to me, that might explain why Bergevin hasn’t wanted to talk to any French-language media since he left.

Overtime

– Bravo to the guys at HFTV. They are so good for the community.

– Perfect timing!

– Love this.

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Ironic: Johnathan Kovacevic is exactly what the Canadiens need

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 17: New Jersey Devils Defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic (8) keeps eyes on the play during first period National Hockey League action between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators on October 17, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It’s amazing how time changes things.

This summer, the Canadiens traded Johnathan Kovacevic because of congestion on the blue line.

And he’s exactly what the Canadiens need right now.

After all, Kovacevic currently finds himself on one of the best duos in the National League.

The pair he forms with Jonas Siegenthaler – as of yesterday – has allowed the fewest anticipated goals per 60 minutes since the start of the season.

And that’s no coincidence:

While Kovacevic swims like a fish in water in New Jersey, the Canadiens are looking for solutions to be more solid defensively.

Kovy is justly recognized as a reliable guy in his zone… And it’s ironic, but the Habs could use a responsible defenseman right now.

Kaiden Guhle and David Savard may be doing a fine job defensively, but even so, the Habs are one of the worst defensive clubs in the National League, and it shows when you consider that the Montreal team has allowed no fewer than 82 goals so far.

Only the Penguins, Sharks and Avalanche are worse in this respect:

(Credit: NHL.com screenshot)

Johnathan Koavecic wouldn’t be saving the Canadiens’ season right now.

That said, when you consider that he’s one of the league’s best players in terms of differential (+13), that his pairing is one of the best defensively in the entire NHL and that the Canadiens want to improve defensively, you’d think Kent Hughes made a mistake letting him go.

It’s part of the game and easier to say afterwards… But hey.

I never thought I’d say this, but I miss him in Montreal.

Overtime

– I like that.

– Cute.

– The list makes sense.

– You have to be careful with rumors sometimes :

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“At $1.1 million, is there a team that would claim Harvey-Pinard? Not sure.”

MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 16: Rafael Harvey-Pinard #49 of the Montreal Canadiens talks to the fans after the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre on April 16, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)

After missing the first month and a half of the season, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard returned to action last week for the Laval Rocket.

The Habs sent him to the AHL to get back into shape.

How are things going for the forward? He scored yesterday… after being blanked in his first three games of the season.

Ultimately, you’d think the Canadiens would call him back at some point, because the Québécois has proven himself.

He’s proven he can play in the National League.

But given his lack of dominance and the fact that Patrik Laine seems to be closing in on a return to action, the Canadiens might also be interested in leaving the Québécois in the AHL.

There isn’t much room at the top, after all…

For him to stay in the AHL, on the other hand, Harvey-Pinard would have to be placed in the waivers because the Habs have been granted a waiver to extend his conditioning period in Laval.

And in that case, if he is placed in the waivers… Renaud Lavoie(BPM Sports) doesn’t think he’d be claimed because of his salary :

At $1.1 million, would any team claim Harvey-Pinard? I’m not sure. – Renaud Lavoie

Harvey-Pinard has qualities in his game that could be interesting.

In fact, it’s mainly his commitment and consistency of effort that have helped him build a certain reputation since his arrival in the pros.

On the other hand, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard is also a player who struggled to produce last year (two goals and 10 points in 45 games). He had a good run at the end of the 22-23 season, when there were a million injured players in Montreal (I’m exaggerating) and when there was nothing left for the Habs to play for… But that’s it.

Paying a player his salary for a performance like that is less attractive to a National League club. And let’s not forget one thing: if a team wants him… they’re obliged to keep him in the NHL.

The team must wait at least 30 days (or until the player has played 10 games) before it can send him back to the waivers. That said, a team would have to be struggling with injuries to make room for him…

For now, it’s hard to imagine the Canadiens’ plan in his case. That could change very quickly, as Montreal is no stranger to injuries… But the longer this goes on, the more likely it is that his case will be complicated to manage.

Overtime

– It makes sense.

– When you invite your buddies home and the pizza has finally arrived :

– It’s been a long time.

– Interesting!

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Mikko Rantanen, the NHL’s highest-paid player?

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Who’s the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL? He’s not necessarily the best: he’s the most recently signed.

That’s just the way it is in the sports world, where salaries rise quickly. Incomes are on the rise now that the effects of the pandemic have been behind us for years.

And the players are benefiting.

This same phenomenon is also likely to hit the NHL. The contracts of Leon Draisaitl ($14 million a year starting next year) and Auston Matthews ($13.25 million a year) are good examples. Both have recently surpassed Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 M) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 M).

So who will get the next big contract? Obviously, we’re talking about Connor McDavid. By the summer of 2026, he’ll undoubtedly have the biggest active contract in the entire NHL.

In 2025-2026, until proven otherwise, Draisaitl will be the highest-paid player in terms of money on the cape. But he may not have the title all to himself, according to what Pierre LeBrun reports on the heels of TSN’s Insider Trading segment.

Here’s what he says.

I think Mikko Rantanen believes he can get $14M as a free agent. – Pierre LeBrun

There are two big names to keep an eye on this summer: Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen. Both players are at the end of their contracts, and both are likely to stay with the Maple Leafs and Avalanche even before testing the market, according to LeBrun.

I’m surprised about Marner… but hey.

With Matthews at $13.25M and MacKinnon at $12.6M, both teams will be trying to establish ceilings for negotiations. But with the real salary cap going up, the guys’ agents will have arguments.

That’s why LeBrun thinks that, on the open market, Rantanen could fetch more. But of course, maybe he’ll figure he’s okay at $12.5 million (random number) and won’t want to test the market.

Playing with the Avalanche sounds like fun.

But at the same time, when you look at his numbers, it’s easy to think that if he were to become a free agent, he’d be in demand and could become the face of a franchise.

(Credit: Hockey DB)

Remember that Rantanen, who currently earns $9.25 million a year, already has a ring. If he wants another, taking a discount from Denver would be a good option.

But what if he doesn’t? Someone will pay him. He’s too good, after all.

Overtime

– Really?

– Team Canada: who will be the starting goalie?[BPM Sports]

– Read more.

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“Even if the Canadiens made me an offer, I wouldn’t listen. I’m not interested” – Danick

Yesterday morning, Jean and I published our 7th episode (out of 10) of Stanley25, season 2.

In Part 1, we discussed the identity of the Canadiens’ real hockey boss, two of the Canadiens’ non-tradable players, the guys who were hangovers at Guy Lafleur’s chapel, the fact that I was barred from a public signing last Sunday, the shitshow that became a signing session with Cole Caufield 10 days ago, and a QMJHL player who’s been heavily scrutinized by the Canadiens this year.

In the second part of the podcast, we welcome Danick, a Canadiens and Rocket super fan who has made a name for himself on HFTV‘s social networks. If you don’t put him back, he’s the one screaming outside the Bell Centre with tattoos in ‘face…

Jean asked Danick if he’d been approached to work for/with the Canadiens, and Danick made it abundantly clear:

“Even if they did, I wouldn’t listen. I’m not interested in that […] I know the Canadiens in the bubble they’re in, and I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to be told: turn left, turn right, do three laps, look pretty, just have a drink.

It’s going to be a complete change of character for me.” – Danick

It’s pretty special that a super fan of a team isn’t interested in eventually working for that same team….

A few minutes later, Danick confessed to having been hired by several teams in Quebec (mostly senior), which earns him a little money on the side.

I guess these teams give him carte blanche…

Danick told 9millions that some Canadiens players – and managers, I’m sure – are afraid of what he might do when they meet him. You know, an organization is always afraid of “different” people it can’t control…

They’re often unpredictable in their eyes!

I’ll end by reassuring Danick: there are agents out there who are afraid of Jean and me, probably two of the nicest guys in the Québécois sports world.

At the end of the day, people who say the right things, stay true to who they are and work for themselves, not for others, will always be dangerous in the eyes of the more fearful.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, to be feared for your freedom and courage. If Canadiens fans were more Danicks than men in ties who go to the Bell Centre just because it’s paid for by the company, the atmosphere in the arena would be a lot better. #Passion

Okay, enough Sunday philosophy on Thursday: tell me about the Canadiens, Danick!

@hftvsports Danick has had ENOUGH 😡 #gohabsgo #quebec #nhl ♬ original sound – HFTV

Overtime

– It’s Marc-André Fleury’s birthday.

– Who will play for Canada in 2025?

– It’s up to him to seize his chance.

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Jesperi Kotkaniemi wanted to leave the Canadiens

ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #82 of the Carolina Hurricanes warms up prior to Game Four of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 27, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

Marc Bergevin, as you may know, opened up to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

Three years after losing his job(a job he no longer wanted, he said), he agreed to talk about several topics that marked his time (which he loved) as GM of the Canadiens.

And of the lot? The hostile offer sheet with the Hurricanes.

What you need to know is that, in hindsight, he would make the offer sheet to Sebastian Aho differently. He thought the big bonuses would be too much for the Hurricanes and they’d be forced to let him go.

It didn’t work out. And in the end, it turned out to be a good deal for the Canes.

I learned my lesson, honestly. – Marc Bergevin

This brings us to Jesperi Kotkaniemi. After all, it was out of revenge that the Hurricanes offered KK $6.1 million over one year, in order to bring him to Carolina and then sign him to a bigger contract – but at a lower price per year.

And just because he scored his third goal of the season yesterday doesn’t mean the Habs are bored.

Listening to Bergevin, the decision not to keep Kotkaniemi was a no-brainer. After all, the GM didn’t think the player was worth $6.1 million… and he wouldn’t have signed long-term with the Habs, who wanted a change of scenery.

Letting him go made sense.

Remember that KK agreed to a one-year deal at a high price, knowing that he would sign for a longer term at a lower price. It was a strategy to get him out of Montreal with a high average salary, and he wouldn’t have signed such contracts elsewhere.

The Habs tried to negotiate a deal instead of an offer sheet, but the Canes wouldn’t let Seth Jarvis go.

He’s a big part of Marc Bergevin’s legacy. And, contrary to what many people think, he doesn’t consider that he left the Canadiens in bad shape.

In particular, he says he left the new administration plenty of options.

I didn’t leave the franchise in bad shape. – Marc Bergevin

Since his departure, Marc Bergevin has drawn criticism from many quarters. And while it’s no surprise to see him defending his record with Pierre LeBrun, the fact remains that he’s done some good.

It’s not as rosy as he thinks, but it’s not as black as some people think either.

Overtime

– Ouch.

– Oh.

– Is his future in Toronto?

– It’s not looking good for the Islanders.

– Rocket loss yesterday.

– Chris Kreider: a trade this summer is more likely.

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It’s American Thanksgiving and the Habs are last in the East

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

It’s American Thanksgiving and the Habs are last in the East.

I say this because every year, we hear the old classic that once American Thanksgiving arrives, we can take the standings and see who has a chance of making the playoffs.

And the standings don’t exactly favor the Habs at the moment.

(Credit: NHL.com)

No matter how much we try to kid ourselves that “the club is only five points away from the playoffs” or that the Penguins have a worse points percentage than the Habs, the fact remains that the club is last in the East.

Do Martin St-Louis’ men have what it takes to overtake eight teams in the standings? The answer is no.

As we’ve seen in recent games, the Canadiens have just four wins in their last 13 games. And even though they won yesterday (in overtime against a bad club), that doesn’t erase everything.

Those who listened to the coach’s post-game press briefing last night could see that, no, he didn’t sound fully satisfied. His answers were short.

At the same time, that’s logical, because despite the 4-3 victory, there are still aspects that need to be corrected. Not everything about yesterday’s match was perfect.

What do I take away from all this?

1. Justin Barron is playing with fire. Yesterday, he had no choice but to be in the lineup because Mike Matheson still couldn’t play… but let’s just say he was struggling defensively.

Covering your man, in a man-to-man system, shouldn’t be an option.

2. Cayden Primeau was under a lot of pressure and he wasn’t naughty. He didn’t hurt his club, but he didn’t get up either. He did enough to get the win with 21 saves on 24 shots.

As for the Habs, they scored four times on 23 shots. That’s 10 more than the day before.

3. Juraj Slafkovsky has been flogged for playing on the fourth line recently. And after the few messages he’s received in recent weeks, he’s finally understood.

In addition to his goal, he played better yesterday. If the Habs want to win games, they’re going to need this Slaf more often… which hasn’t been the case regularly since the start of the season.

4. Brendan Gallagher didn’t just inspire Slaf: he inspired all his teammates, too, as he battled Zach Werenski. He’s got guts and does everything he can to inspire others.

It has an effect.

5. The network landed for the Habs in 2022-2023 when Sean Monahan was injured. In 2023-2024? When he was traded. And this year, the network was never really on board.

Watching the veteran play last night in Columbus, it’s easy to see why. He takes the little details seriously.

Extensions

Yesterday, after the game, the Canadiens players headed for New York, where they will play on Saturday. But today will be a complete vacation for Martin St-Louis’s men. #ActionDeGrâce

Tomorrow, it’s back to practice.

We’ll have to wait until tomorrow for news of Mike Matheson. We know he’s banged up (he missed two games in a row, after all), but we don’t know how bad.

Will he play on Saturday? It’s too early to say.