Former Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin is reportedly on the radar of the Columbus Blue Jackets as they search for a new GM, according to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.
Bergevin, 58, has extensive experience in NHL front offices, having spent nearly two decades in the league after retiring as a player in 2004. He worked for the Chicago Blackhawks for seven years in various roles, including scouting, coaching, and front office positions, before being named the GM and executive vice president of hockey operations for the Canadiens in 2012.
During his nine-plus seasons with Montreal, Bergevin presided over the team’s unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. However, the Canadiens struggled immediately after that, leading to Bergevin’s firing in late November 2021 following a 6-15-2 start to the season. Head coach Dominique Ducharme was also dismissed, paving the way for Martin St. Louis to take over as the Canadiens’ head coach.
In the final months of his tenure with Montreal, Bergevin faced heavy criticism for drafting defenseman Logan Mailloux in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Mailloux had been charged with defamation and criminal photography in Sweden for “sending explicit pictures of a sexual act without the consent of his partner” during his draft year. Despite Mailloux’s request not to be drafted, the Canadiens selected him anyway.
Many of Bergevin’s most significant signings as Canadiens GM, such as Carey Price’s eight-year, $84 million extension in 2017 and deals for Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson in 2020, have not lived up to expectations due to injuries and underperformance.
Since being fired by the Canadiens, Bergevin has worked as a senior advisor to Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake. The Blue Jackets have been searching for a new GM since firing Jarmo Kekäläinen in February.
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