Marc Bergevin’s Five Best Moves as Canadiens General Manager

#4: Tyler Toffoli Signing

The Montreal Canadiens were in an advantageous position in the offseason before the shortened 2021 season. When most teams were looking to either limit spending or drastically cutback payroll heading into a season without fans, the Canadiens could afford to add.

They were one of the few teams that were willing to take on payroll, and they made the most of that opportunity when Marc Bergevin signed Tyler Toffoli as an unrestricted free agent.

Toffoli had an impressive resume, winning a Stanley Cup as a top six winger with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014. He had scored 20 goals three times in his career and was coming off a 24 goal and 44 point performance with the Kings and Vancouver Canucks.

When he was not signed after the first couple of days of free agency, the Habs were able to lure him in with a bargain contract. Toffoli signed a four year deal with a $4.25 million cap hit.

Toffoli exceeded all expectations in year one with 28 goals in 52 games which ranked 7th in the NHL’s shortened 2021 season. He added 16 assists to finish with 44 points on the season. The pucks have not been finding the back of the net as rapidly for Toffoli this season as he has five goals and 15 points in 24 games. But that 15 points still leads the team during their difficult season.

For $4.25 million per year, you would be happy with a lot less than Toffoli has brought so far. He has played 76 games so far with the Canadiens, scoring 33 goals and 59 points. His contract already looks like a steal and could climb even higher on this list if he continues to produce over the final two-plus seasons of it.