Former Canadiens Executive Returns to Hockey Leadership
Marc Bergevin, the former general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, has secured his first GM position since being dismissed from the NHL club nearly four years ago. The 60-year-old hockey executive was named general manager for Team Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament scheduled for December 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.
Bergevin's Journey Since Leaving Montreal
November 29 will mark four years since the Canadiens fired Bergevin after his decade-long tenure that ultimately resulted in the team entering a rebuilding phase. Since his departure from Montreal, Bergevin has been unable to land another general manager position in the National Hockey League, despite being interviewed twice this summer by the New York Islanders before they ultimately hired Mathieu Darche.
Bergevin has spent the past four seasons working as a senior adviser with the Los Angeles Kings, maintaining a lower profile compared to his high-visibility role in Montreal. In his interview with The Athletic last year, Bergevin acknowledged that the time away from a GM role has been beneficial, stating he needed this period to "re-energize" after his intense experience leading the Canadiens.
Spengler Cup Opportunity and Hockey Canada's Vote of Confidence
Hockey Canada expressed strong confidence in Bergevin's appointment, pairing him with associate general manager Stacy Roest for the prestigious international tournament. Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, emphasized that both executives bring extensive NHL and AHL management experience along with professional and international playing backgrounds.
This appointment could potentially put Bergevin back on the radar for NHL general manager positions, as extended absences from the league often make it easier for teams to overlook experienced candidates. The Spengler Cup role provides Bergevin with an opportunity to demonstrate his team-building capabilities on an international stage.
During his ten-year run with the Canadiens, Bergevin's teams compiled a regular-season record of 344-265-81, missing the playoffs three times (2016, 2018, and 2019). The team's most successful postseason run came in 2021 when they advanced to the Stanley Cup final, largely propelled by exceptional goaltending from Carey Price, who posted a 2.28 goals-against average and .924 save percentage during that playoff campaign.
Bergevin's tenure in Montreal included several controversial decisions, most notably the 2021 first-round selection of defenseman Logan Mailloux, who had previously renounced himself from the draft due to off-ice conduct. The Canadiens ultimately traded Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues this past summer.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens organization has moved forward under current GM Kent Hughes and vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, currently sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 10-3-2 record as they prepare to face Bergevin's current team, the Los Angeles Kings.
