Do not count on Marc Bergevin to commerce Canadiens’ No. 3 decide at NHL Draft
“You pay a hefty value to get that decide,” common supervisor tells NHL.com
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Canadiens common supervisor Marc Bergevin says he’s unlikely to commerce the No. 3 general decide at this 12 months’s NHL Draft.
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During a Q&A interview with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com Tuesday in Buffalo, the place the 2018 NHL Scouting Mix is being held this week, Bergevin mentioned he must be blown away with a commerce provide from one other group with a view to deal the No. 3 decide that the Canadiens gained within the NHL Draft Lottery after ending twenty eighth within the general NHL standings this season with a 29-40-13 file.
“You pay a hefty value to get that decide,” Bergevin informed Zeisberger. “Clearly, having the season we had, that’s what gave us the precise to choose that prime. It’s definitely not the objective when your season begins. However after all of the ache and struggling, individuals will say, ‘Will you ever commerce that decide?’ You realize what? I realized from a remark (then-Blackhawks GM) Dale Tallon made once I was in Chicago. He mentioned: ‘You realize what, Berg? You understand how a lot we suffered to get that decide?’ And I consider on the time it was third general and it was Jonathan Toews. And the subsequent 12 months, it was Patrick Kane (with the No. 1 decide). So it’s not a enjoyable time for our followers to endure the way in which they did this 12 months, however we’re going to get rewarded in Dallas with a decide we really feel will make our group higher within the lengthy haul. That’s the value to pay.”
This marks the second time in six years as GM of the Canadiens that Bergevin has the No. 3 decide on the draft after choosing Alex Galchenyuk third general in 2012. Since then, Bergevin’s first-round draft picks have been Mike McCarron (twenty fifth general, 2013), Nikita Scherbak (twenty sixth, 2014), Noah Juulsen (twenty sixth, 2015), Mikhail Sergachev (ninth, 2016) and Ryan Poehling (twenty fifth, 2017).
This 12 months’s NHL Draft can be held June 22-23 in Dallas.
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After drafting Galchenyuk throughout his first 12 months on the job as Canadiens GM, Bergevin informed TSN’s James Duthie: “That’s the man we had been targeted on from Day 1 since I took over. We had been glad that he was there at (No.) 3.
“He’s an enormous centre … they don’t come by,” Bergevin added. “Once they do, you draft them as a result of you’ll be able to’t actually commerce for one as a result of for one they’re not obtainable. Down the center for me must be a power and he suits the invoice.”
Six years later, Galchenyuk nonetheless hasn’t match the invoice at centre, which continues to be a serious weak spot for the Canadiens and Bergevin doesn’t count on Galchenyuk to play centre once more subsequent season..
“He hasn’t performed centre all 12 months,” Bergevin mentioned about Galchenyuk after the Canadiens’ season ended. “I’m nonetheless not offered on that and, to be trustworthy with you, I don’t suppose he can be. I’m attempting to be clear with you. I believe he’s gotten higher. He had a tricky begin, he’s gotten higher … his compete stage. He’s a great child, he desires to do properly. However like the remainder of us, he had a tricky 12 months.”
Jonathan Drouin additionally had a tricky 12 months in his first season because the Canadiens’ No. 1 centre after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchance for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, however Bergevin informed NHL.com’s Zeisberger that he hasn’t given up on Drouin in that spot.
“There’s a notion that (Drouin) failed there,” Bergevin informed Zeisberger. “I’m not able to say that.
“It takes a while and a few mileage to play that place to a level the place you may actually assist your group win,” the GM added. “So I’m not going to write down him off there. However we now have choices we will take a look at as we converse.”
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