The Canadiens have cleaned house and added a former Rangers executive to help them through the process.
After a woeful 6-15-2 start, Montreal fired general manager Marc Bergevin, assistant general manager Trevor Timmins and head of communications Paul Wilson. The Canadiens also hired Jeff Gorton, last seen as the Rangers’ general manager before being fired last May, as their executive vice president of hockey operations.
“On behalf of myself and the organization, I wish to thank Marc Bergevin, Trevor Timmins and Paul Wilson for their passion and engagement towards our club over the last years,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “Their relentless work allowed our fans to experience many memorable moments, including last summer’s playoff run that culminated with the Stanley Cup Final. We wish them all the success they deserve in pursuit of their careers.
“I think, however, that the time has come for a leadership change within our hockey operations department that will bring a new vision and should allow our fans and partners to continue cheering for a championship team.”
The team also said that its next GM must be able to speak both French and English, in order to communicate with fans in Quebec.
After a miraculous playoff run that saw them reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993, the Canadiens have faceplanted this season. With goaltender Carey Price missing time due to personal issues, the team has struggled to find an adequate replacement.
Their special teams have also badly struggled, with just nine power-play goals and a penalty-kill percentage below 70.Â
Bergevin’s ouster had started to feel inevitable, though a complete housecleaning was perhaps less anticipated.