Man on the hotseat Habs unveil GM, need coach

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Paul Chiasson / the canadian press Marc Bergevin (above) was club president Geoff Molson�s top choice for GM from a short list that also included Julian BriseBois and Pierre McGuire. (CP)

MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens president Geoff Molson said the hiring of general manager Marc Bergevin represents the "first step in re-establishing a culture of winning in Montreal."

Bergevin, 46, was introduced as the Canadiens' 17th GM at a news conference Wednesday. He replaces Pierre Gauthier, who was relieved of his duties on March 29 after a two-year run that ended with the Canadiens finishing last in the NHL's Eastern Conference with a 31-35-16 record this season.

Molson said the decision to hire Bergevin was made after a month-long search guided by former general manager Serge Savard.

"We had a long list of candidates and we were able to whittle the list down to 10 pretty easily," Molson said.

Molson added there were three candidates on the final short list, and while he didn't identify them, the runners-up are believed to be Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Julian BriseBois and hockey commentator Pierre McGuire.

If the hiring process was exhaustive for Molson and Savard, it was no less so for Bergevin, who went through what he described as "three-and-a-half interviews." It was a six-hour session Monday that convinced Molson he had the right man.

"We talked about many different things, but it never got old," Molson said. "We could have talked all night.

"The decision wasn't easy, but we feel we selected an individual with the potential to lead our organization in the future," Molson added.

"We were looking for a candidate with very strong leadership capabilities, great communication skills at all levels and someone with a clear determination and commitment to winning.

"We believe we found the right person."

Bergevin said he hoped to have fun in the new job and make the people of Montreal proud. When asked how long it would take to turn the team around, Bergevin said: "I don't have a time frame, but my vision of this team is that it has a good nucleus.

To rebuild something, you start from scratch. I believe the pieces we have are good. Obviously, finishing 15th in the conference means there's a lot of work to do, but we have a good base to build from."

On several occasions, Bergevin stressed the importance of teamwork and the need for players who fill different roles.

"I was never the greatest player, but I always thought I contributed," said Bergevin, who enjoyed a 20-year career as a defenceman in the NHL.

Bergevin has to find a new head coach. One of his first duties Wednesday was calling former teammate Randy Cunneyworth and telling him he was not returning as head coach, but there might be a role for him as an assistant.

Employment

Cunneyworth's continued employment will ultimately be in the hands of the team's new head coach.

That coaching job might not be filled before the June draft. Bergevin said there was no urgency in hiring a new head coach and he'll apply the same painstaking approach that led to his hiring.

Bergevin said he was looking for a good communicator who can adjust during a game, but his main concern is finding someone with the desire to win. Of course, the ability to speak both French and English will be a hard-and-fast requirement.

Bergevin said that before he made any changes, he wants to evaluate the personnel currently in place.

Bergevin, who grew up in Montreal's working-class Point St. Charles neighbourhood and watched the Canadiens win Stanley Cups as a youngster, arrives back in Montreal after seven years in the Chicago Blackhawks' front office

Bergevin was drafted 59th overall by Chicago in 1983 and played 1,191 games with the Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 3, 2012 C3