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If the GM has a core that comes within two games of the Finals, it's HIS job to elevate that core, not blow it up.

It was Bergevin who decided to stand still in the summer of 2014 after his team got to the ECF. It was Bergevin who decided to stand still in the summer of 2015 after his team had the second best record in the league. He could have added a centre. He could have added a real 1RW. He could have fired Therrien for a better coach. Instead he did nothing until 2016, when his big decision was to subtract Subban and add Weber.

They weren't a 28th place team in 2014, they were 2 wins away from a Cup final. It was obvious then, when David Desharnais was the first line centre, what was needed. He didn't get it done and the team has aged and the window closed in the mean time. Seems to me that Buffalo found a #1 centre, heck they might have 2 of them now. Toronto has 2 Ottawa made their deal to get a top centre. San Jose has had Couture, Thornton and Pavelski. St. Louis is deep down the middle now. Vancouver is hoping Elias Pettersson is going to be a number 1. Those teams weren't starting with what Bergevin was given in 2012 - A top veteran defenceman in Markov - a young kid who would win the Norris Trophy. - a winger who just had his first of 5, 30 goal seasons. - A reliable 2-way centre in his prime, in Plekanec. - a captain who could still score 20. - an ageing LW who just had 35 goals. - a young goalie on the cusp of being the top goalie in the league. - A rookie RW who would become a consistent goal scoring threat - the #3 overall pick, two second rounders in 2012, and his first, plus two more second rounders in 2013. - a young Centre who would become a strong number 3, even good enough to be the number 3 on a cup winning squad. Ray Charles could see that we needed a centre when Bergevin came on board. And I don't care what Bergevin tried, he didn't Get It Done.

This isn't the "try league" this is the "get it done" league. If you can't get it done, eventually they're going to find people who can" Bergevin failed to improve the team, he failed to get a centre when it was clear this team was a centre away from being a legit threat at the cup. I don't care what he tried, his job was to get it done.

I'm not crying for a tax on the 1%, sorry.

It's so easy to blame Bergevin for these "circumstances." Pacs likely asked for a trade last season (I believe Molson). Pacs was the guy usually scoring 30 and not managing to get to 20. He lowered his return. Then Bergevin moves him to LA and Pacs nixes that deal. Lots happen behind closed doors that we will never know about. Given the "circumstances", Bergevin did very well here. Suzuki is a better prospect than you think.

Subban (You did say Who SHOULD be Captain? Not who could be captain?)

I think I went to pick Youppi! and picked Byron instead haha. Team vote is what got us Carbonneau/Chelios splitting the C and Pacioretty. Of course, the issue with Pacioretty is nobody could pick Carey Price, who everyone felt was the real leader of the team, and allegedly nobody could pick Andrei Markov. There were reports he refused the C, then he denied that, and there were reports when they chose captain they couldn't name him. In hindsight, Markov should have been named captain in 2010, with alternates for when he was hurt. Either way, he was the leader of that locker room until Price matured, and even then he was the real leader on the ice. Everyone respected him and looked up to him. I hope Markov writes a book one day, because there's so much that just doesn't smell right with Markov's career with the Habs now and I wonder what it was.

I was happy to see Bouchard take this stance. For far too long the Canadiens organization has behaved this way, not standing up for teammates that have been cheap-shotted or standing idly by when skill players are harassed/intimidated. There are some here who think the rough stuff serves no purpose in the 'new' NHL, but I could not disagree more strongly. The prime example that I can think of was in this past Stanley Cup Final, when Coburn pulled Backstrom's jersey off during a scrum and tossed it to the ice. Were that a Habs skilled player, nothing would get done about it 9 times out of 10. The Caps, however, stand up for each other...Tom Wilson lost his mind and immediately tried to get at Coburn...and it took a hell of an effort by the linesman to prevent it. The whole time he and Coburn were in the box, Wilson was livid...and told him about the ass-kicking he was going to give him the entire 2 minutes...I don't think he even sat down once. As soon as the box opened, he was on Coburn like white on rice...he didn't give him a choice, they were fighting. Right then and there, by the reaction of the Caps bench, I was more sure than ever that they were going to win the Cup; they were a TEAM in every sense of the word. If Bouchard can start to instill that in the up and coming Canadiens in Laval, that is as much a vital part of the rebuild as re-stocking the talent pool IMO.

Personally I don't draft Kotkaniemi over Zadina. Dude was revved up to be a Hab. I think he would have given 110% to be a star here. Maybe I eat crow on that when I'm 40. But for this team? No. Keep stockpiling centres. I want Hughes or Cozens in 2019 and Lafreniere or Byfield in 2020. One of the four would be amazing. Two of the four would be the making of a real contender. Let's say we finish dead last in 19-20 after moving Weber and Price and we win the lottery for Lafreniere. In 2019 we drafted Lavoie because Price had a decent season so we got 6th overall or something. We are now running with: C: Lafreniere, Poehling, Suzuki, Kotkaniemi L: Domi, Hudon, Lehkonen, RW: Lavoie, Scherbak, Bitten, Ylonen F: Drouin (can play anywhere) Now with this depth, we realize that Poehling and Lafreniere are real deal top centres while Suzuki can pivot to the wing. Maybe Kotkaniemi doesn't pan out as a top centre but ends up a really good 2/3 C. Suddenly we are running with a lineup that could look like Suzuki - Lafreniere - Lavoie Domi - Poehling - Drouin Hudon - Kotkaniemi - Scherbak/Bitten You could even move Kotkaniemi to the wing and have him replace Domi if he busts like I expect him to. Point is, Leafs (I know I know we all hate hearing about them as they haven't won anything but hear me out) drafted Nylander and Marner as centres and play both as wingers. That's much easier to do than draft wingers and make them centres. Also if say Matthews signs an offer sheet in Arizona and is gone next summer, Toronto still has Tavares and Kadri and can move Marner back to centre if need be. That's why you need heavy centre depth. Poehling, Kotkaniemi, and Suzuki is a start. I want more.

I really can't understand why people are so happy about this trade. If Pacioretty really needed to go he should have been traded at the deadline where Tatar netted three picks. An analogy: You need to build a house. Imagine you hire a new guy with a lot of experience who apprenticed in great organization. At first, all is well and he does some great work with some discount pieces. Then, he has a dispute with one of the most talented young workers and gets rid of him to bring in an older guy who has the “right attitude”. The new guy was great at first, but he is always hurt. Things continue to go wrong and the project does not progress the way that it was envisioned. What looked like an award-winning mansion in the making is now looking decrepit. Feuds with the work crew continue to slow progress--attitude is blamed again-- and your prized possession is losing its luster. Then, the cumulative incompetence, leads to a fire and your house is partly destroyed. Somehow, in the middle of that, your guy manages to move out one of your long term employees for some younger, potentially more skilled workers. Now, a mansion that looked to be just about done and ready to win is in ruins. Most experts estimate that it will take 3-5 years to repair the damage. Do you keep the same guy in charge for what he says is a "reset," not a full rebuild?

Why then did Colorado get such a haul for Duchene when his production and Pacioretty ‘s is virtually identical? And Duchene is ufa after this season? Answer: the Canadiens botched the relationship with the player—again— and had no choice but to get rid of MP ASAP. That is not good planning and it is not good GM’ing

No, PACs had to be traded because of what MB turned the team into. It’s kust sad the habs squandered a dam good core that should be in its prime because of utter incompetence and stupidity.

What? How can you possibly know what Bergevin tried to do? That's the problem with fans, act on little to no information. We have no way to know what trades or free agent signing Bergevin tried to make in 2014 or 2015. Is it his fault if players turn down Montreal for warmer climates or lesser taxes? Who were the top free agents in 2014? Stastny? Spezza? Richards? Vanek? Please tell me what (and if) Bergevin offered them. Less money? Less term? Oh, you don't know. What about 2015? Green? Fisher? Please, tell me what MB didn't do? Not enough signing bonus? Oh, you don't know. Team makes it to ECF. Team has 2nd best record in league. You angry coach didn't get fired. Ahh, makes sense. The fact is, as fans, we opinionate with very little information. What if Stastny turned down millions more from Montreal? What if MB offered the moon in a trade and the other team simply said no. I'm not a MB fan, and I dreaded yesterday when JB took the Tampa job because I figured he'd be the next guy for Montreal. But people really need to stop blaming him for what he didn't do. People also fail to credit decent moves by him.. picking up Byron for nothing. The Danault trade. Diaz for Weise. The Vanek trade. The Drouin trade? The Weber trade? Sure, beat it to death. Free Agency 2014.. give it a rest.

Wow you're really over valuing these players. Byron is coming off a leg injury, I would say he is worth a 3rd round pick at best. This is a deep draft year so teams wont be giving away there top 3 picks. Schlemko and McCarron no way anyone GM gives you a 3rd round pick for these guys. They're worth a7th or 6th at best. Only gm that would give you a 3rd round pick for one of these guys is Bergevin himself. As for Rose again now way you get a 2nd round pick for him. Maybe a 4th.

So what about all the trade deadlines when Beregvin did NOTHING. Adding guys like Dwight King and Steve OTT, when this team was absolutely starved for goals all season... Or letting the team rot from the inside out when Price went down with a knee injury for the season. I mean, this team had a solid core of young players, that were robbed by a g.m who wasn't competent enough to put the cherry on the cake.

Because he didn't do anything. The proof is history. I don't care how hard you tried. You didn't get it done. We don't gauge GMs on intent. He did not get a centre when the team was a contender. He was content with Desharnais. That's the history of it. End of story.

Tell that to Vancouver, St Louis, Buffalo, Toronto, Ottawa, San Jose, etc... Sounds pretty simple though. 28th place team was 1 centre from a Cup, too funny...must be happy hour where you are and you are imbibing a bit too much today.