Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin was dancing with delight after Tyler Toffoli’s overtime game winner in Game 4. And why not?
Toffoli was signed by the Habs general manager on the third day of free agency to a four year contract with a $4.25 million cap hit. A deal that looks like an absolute bargain after his terrific season and big goal that moved the Canadiens on to the NHL’s semifinals.
It wasn’t the only move that Bergevin made recently that looks great.
Jake Allen was solid in goal all year and got the team just enough point while Carey Price was injured to sneak into the playoffs. Also, he kept Price more rested than even during the busy season and that is paying off with an excellent performance from the Habs goaltender. Joel Edmundson and Josh Anderson aren’t piling up points, but they play a physical, grinding style that is leading to success for the Canadiens.
Eric Staal and Corey Perry have turned back the clock and are providing terrific depth for the Habs on this run to the final four. Even trade deadline pickup Erik Gustafsson has become something of a lucky charm as the team is 7-0 in games that he plays in the postseason.
All of those players were picked up since last offseason by Bergevin and every single one of them has fit their role perfectly for the Canadiens in this run in the postseason. It’s enough to secure a contract extension for Bergevin himself, as he has just one year left on his current contract at the helm of the Habs organization.
It is not only the moves that Bergevin has made that have led to all of this success. In fact, some of the rumoured moves, or trades and signings that fans were clamouring for that Bergevin decided not to do have been just as important.
Let’s take a look at the five moves Marc Bergevin did not do that have led the Canadiens to reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals.