In recent times, Marc Bergevin has faced significant criticism, particularly following his departure from Montreal. Pierre Gervais, in his remarks last year, described Bergevin’s final moments with the Canadiens as unremarkable. The former Habs equipment manager also highlighted in his debut book that the former GM failed to motivate his players due to his immature demeanor.
During an appearance on the Stanley25 podcast hosted by Max Truman and Jean Trudel, David St-Germain, a former club manager, shed light on his experiences with Bergevin. St-Germain expressed that it was challenging to work alongside the GM as his conduct was far from exceptional. He recounted an anecdote that encapsulated this sentiment.
Without revealing all the details to preserve the episode’s surprises, St-Germain shared a story about a program called “The Ultimate Experience,” which offered fans exclusive access to Canadiens games and various privileges. This program allowed fans to visit the dressing room after games, including an instance where a sick young man had the opportunity to meet the players.
When former goalkeeper Mike Condon approached the young fan to offer greetings and engage in a conversation, Marc Bergevin reportedly became upset. Bergevin expressed displeasure as he believed managers were not supposed to interact with the Canadiens players.
St-Germain elaborated that Bergevin wasted no time in reprimanding his employee for the incident.
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It is quite a peculiar situation because there is unanimous agreement that Mike Condon did nothing wrong. On the contrary, he behaved appropriately. However, Marc Bergevin exhibited a managerial style characterized by such actions.
Even esteemed club veterans like Guy Lafleur and Jean Béliveau experienced instances of disrespect from Bergevin. For example, Bergevin instructed a security personnel at the Bell Centre to convey to Béliveau that he was unwelcome at the arena.
Being a GM is a challenging role that often requires setting aside personal sentiments. The demanding nature of the Montreal market exacerbates the pressure as it remains highly intense on a daily basis. Conversely, accounts of Marc Bergevin suggest that he may have been struggling given the circumstances. Pierre Gervais, in his book, also mentioned that beyond work responsibilities, Bergevin enjoys having fun and is a delight to be around.
In conclusion, I encourage you to tune in to the most recent episode of Max and JT’s podcast. The episode covers discussions on Bergevin, memorable interactions with players, office rumors, season tickets, and the extensive waiting list.
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