Decisions are looming for Montreal Canadiens management after another long losing streak has pushed them further from a playoff spot, although any changes won’t happen right away.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada that general manager Marc Bergevin will wait until after the team’s next four games before making a decision on what to do with his team.
“I think that’s the time where Marc Bergevin will sit down with his staff and decide what’s the plan for this group,” Friedman said. “Four more games before he really, really decides what he’ll do.”
Montreal entered Saturday on an eight-game losing streak before playing the Ottawa Senators. Just prior to the holidays, the Habs were in third place in the Atlantic Division, but are now nine points back of a post-season position.
The Canadiens play four times this coming week against Calgary and Chicago — at home — before a quick trip to Philadelphia on Thursday and then a return to Bell Centre Saturday to face the Vegas Golden Knights.
Montreal then doesn’t play until Jan. 27 due to the bye week and the NHL all-star game, giving Bergevin lots of time to make decision on the team’s future ahead of February’s trade deadline.
Amid the losses, the Canadiens have also been affected by injuries with key players Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Joel Armia and most recently Brendan Gallagher and Ben Chiarot out with various ailments.
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