How the Stanley Cup Final-bound Montreal Canadiens were built

Marc Bergevin always keeps things interesting.

It feels like every year, there are both musings about his job security and marvelling about his ability to pull off bold trades (and even bolder suits). This year alone, the Montreal Canadiens general manager went from the hot seat to being a GM of the year finalist.

After years of constantly adjusting his roster and toeing the line between rebuilding and contending, Bergevin has finally found the formula for a Stanley Cup run.

All but two players — franchise cornerstones Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher — were initially brought in by Bergevin, and the majority originally landed in Montreal via trades.

Here’s a look at how this 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens roster came together.

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TRADES

Here’s where Bergevin does most of his work. Never afraid of making a splash on the trade market, Bergevin has made a career out of bold transactions — particularly when it comes to our favourite kind: the good old player-for-player hockey trade. This year, Bergevin’s deadline deals saw him take advantage of his ample draft capital. What’s more impressive is that he’s still got all of his first- and second-round picks for the next three years.

Between this past off-season and April’s trade deadline, Bergevin added six players via trades for the 2020-21 campaign.

The 2020 trade-and-signs:

2020 | Josh Anderson, RW
via Columbus, in exchange for Max Domi

Both Anderson and Domi were RFAs in need of new contracts and fresh starts. Bergevin wasted no time locking up Anderson with a seven-year, $38.5-million contract upon his arrival.

2020 | Joel Edmundson, D
via Carolina, in exchange for 2020 fifth-round pick

By trading for the pending UFA, Bergevin bought himself some crucial negotiation time with the top-four d-man, who won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2018.

2020 Jake Allen, G
via St. Louis, in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick + seventh-round pick

Ever since Price took the starting role for the Canadiens, there’s never been a question about who owns the crease. But No. 2 has been a different story, especially in recent years as the Habs struggled to find a suitable, steady backup. Bringing in Allen, and investing a little more in net by handing him a two-year, $5.75-million extension, was crucial in keeping Montreal afloat during Price’s injury absence and helped ease the workload, too. Clearly, that’s paid off as Price has been unbeatable this post-season.

Another note from this trade: The third-rounder sent to the Blues was the one acquired from Washington in the Kovalchuk trade at the 2019-20 deadline.

Low-risk deadline deals:

March 2020 | Eric Staal, C
via Buffalo, in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick + 2021 fifth-round pick

Sending a pair of picks to Buffalo in exchange for a veteran leader who knows how to win was Bergevin’s way of telling the rest of the North that he wasn’t waiting for deadline day to make his move. Staal brings a dependable two-way game and some much-need depth down the middle in a bottom-six role that’s proven clutch through this post-season.

April 2020 | Erik Gustafsson, D
via Philadelphia, in exchange for 2022 seventh-round pick

There’s no single recipe for playoff success, but… bulking up your blue line feels like the closest thing.

April 2020: Jon Merrill, D
via Detroit, in exchange for Haden Verbeek + 2021 fifth-round pick

In Gustafsson and Merrill, Bergevin was able to buy some much-needed veteran depth.

Previous trades throughout Bergevin’s tenure:

2018 | Nick Suzuki, C + Tomas Tatar, LW/RW
via Vegas, in exchange for Max Pacioretty; Montreal also received a 2019 second-round pick

The Canadiens ended an era when they dealt their captain to Vegas, and also put to rest the many swirling rumours of trade talks. Tatar, who hasn’t played since Round 1 against the Maple Leafs due to injury, had a career year in his first season with Montreal and then topped that point total in his second.

Suzuki makes up a major part of the Canadiens’ bright future, his strong chemistry with newcomer Cole Caufield and increasingly strong play down the middle ushering in a new and exciting chapter for Montreal.

2018 | Joel Armia, LW
via Winnipeg, in exchange for Simon Bourque; Montreal also received Steve Mason and two late-round picks

Bergevin took on Mason’s cap in the Jets’ salary-shifting move, immediately buying out the final year of the goaltender’s deal, while landing a solid depth forward in Armia, an RFA at the time.

2017 | Jonathan Drouin, LW
via Tampa Bay, in exchange for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev and a 2018 conditional second-round pick; Montreal also traded a 2018 conditional sixth-round pick

When the Canadiens take on Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final, they’ll get a first-hand look at what could’ve been: Lighting defence partners Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan McDonagh. Both were Canadiens prospects to start their respective careers, with Sergachev being selected ninth overall by Bergevin in 2016 and McDonagh 12th in 2007, way before Bergevin’s time.

Montreal needed some offensive firepower, and Drouin brought that — that he did so in his home province was extra special. He hasn’t been with the team throughout the post-season, with the club announcing in April his indefinite leave for personal reasons.

2016 | Shea Weber, D
via Nashville, in exchange for P.K. Subban

It’s not a very well-known trade, and definitely isn’t revisited and re-assessed often, so you probably haven’t heard of it. Let’s move on.

2016 | Phillip Danault
via Chicago, in exchange for Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann; Montreal also received a 2018 second-round pick

Bergevin knew exactly what kind of player he was getting when he traded for Danault five years ago. After all, the longtime executive was assistant general manager of the Blackhawks when Chicago drafted Danault 26th overall in 2011.

Looking back on this one, and considering how instrumental Danault has been during this incredible run to the Stanley Cup Final, it’s safe to say this transaction was one of Bergevin’s best. As for the second-round pick they also acquired alongside Danault, that wound up being Alexander Romanov.

2015 | Jeff Petry, D
via Edmonton, in exchange for a 2015 second-round pick + conditional fifth-round pick

Petry has been a strong, steady presence for Montreal and is as composed as they come, with offensive production to boot.

2020 FREE AGENCY SIGNINGS

Clearly, trades are Bergevin’s bread and butter — but this year, he dabbled in free agency and is looking incredibly smart for it.

Tyler Toffoli, LW
2020 | Four years, $17 million ($4.25M AAV)

After upping his value in a short stint in Vancouver, it was surprising to see the Canucks let him walk last fall. Toffoli has been excellent since landing in Montreal, leading the club in goals and points in the regular season (28 goals, 44 points) and throughout the playoffs (five goals, 14 points).

2020 | Corey Perry, RW
One year, $750,000

Just like he did in Dallas last year, Perry brings a physical presence, winning experience, and that signature clutch gene to Montreal that every Cup Final team needs.

2019 | Ben Chiarot, D
Three years, $10.5 million

Along with Weber, Petry, and Edmundson, Chiarot makes up one of the most efficient blue lines in these playoffs, a crucial top-four defender who’s been a workhorse this spring.

DRAFTED

Of those on Montreal’s regular rotation, just seven players were originally drafted by the Canadiens. Of those seven, five were drafted by Bergevin — including two of the most exciting young forwards of this new era of Habs hockey:

2019: Cole Caufield, RW | first round, 15th overall
2018: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C | first round, 3rd overall
2018: Alexander Romanov, D | second round, 38th overall
2014: Jake Evans, D | seventh round, 207th overall
2013: Artturi Lekhonen, LW | second round, 55th overall

Bergevin inherited Gallagher (fifth round, 147th overall, 2010) and Price (first round, 5th overall, 2005). Price was drafted early in Bob Gainey’s seven-year tenure, while Gallagher was selected by his successor, Pierre Gauthier. He’s made sure to build around both of them, locking both crucial players up to long-term deals and never leaving any doubt about their value to the organization.

Overall, the Canadiens have eight first-rounders on the roster, with Price, Kotkaniemi, and Caufield being the only three originally draft by Montreal. Other first-rounders on the roster:

Nick Suzuki, C: 13th overall, 2017, Vegas
Joel Armia, LW: 16th overall, 2011, Buffalo
Phillip Danault, C: 26th overall, 2011, Chicago
Eric Staal, C: 2nd overall, 2003, Carolina
Corey Perry, RW: 28th overall, 2003, Anaheim

WAIVERS

2015 | Paul Byron, LW
Six years after scooping up the forward off waivers from Calgary, Bergevin — who twice signed Byron to keep him in Montreal since picking him up — has thrice waived the forward himself this season to send him to the taxi squad and navigate the salary cap.

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