The Canadian is reaching the quarter of his season and the team is redefining the ways of sinking week by week. Everywhere, voices are rising for Geoff Molson to speak.
However, do not count Marc Bergevin among those awaiting an exit from the owner, president and CEO of the Habs. Would a public outing by his boss help reduce the pressure on the CEO?
Read the article Marc Bergevin at La Presse: “Dom has not lost his ‘room’ in four months”
“No, because at the end of the day, I’m the ‘boss’ of hockey and it’s my responsibility to take whatever comes with it,” said Bergevin, in a telephone interview with Press, Saturday afternoon.
I’m comfortable in it. It’s “fun” to talk to the media when things are going well, but you also have to do it when things are not going well. It’s his decision not to speak, it’s up to him. But it doesn’t create any stake for me or for Dom [Dominique Ducharme, l’entraîneur-chef].
Marc Bergevin, general manager of the Canadiens
The results of the team on the ice are atrocious. We have to go back to the 1941-1942 season to find an edition of the Canadian who had not yet won 5 victories after 19 games. His 4-13-2 record is 31e NHL; only Arizona Coyotes performed less well.
In the background, the uncertain future of the CEO is talking. Bergevin expires the last year of his contract. At a press briefing last month, he said that “in an ideal world” he would like to stay in office.
The problem is, we never heard from our boss on the subject. And more and more are wondering where the owner of the CH, who has made only one public appearance since the start of the season, is hiding. It was in Val-d’Or, without his presence being announced …
Under the circumstances, a public speech by Molson would certainly bring some clarity to this file. What are Bergevin’s powers under the circumstances? Does he have the green light to conclude a major transaction, without knowing whether it will be up to him or his successor to manage the fallout? Can he settle contractual situations like that of Ben Chiarot?
Unable to speak to Molson, we must therefore speak to Bergevin.
“In all fairness, I haven’t had a different conversation with Geoff this year and it’s ‘business as usual.’ But Geoff knows that I have always done the best for the organization, both short and long term. He will give me the green light, unless otherwise advised. ”