- The Montreal Canadiens started 11-5-4 in their first 20 games and were in the playoff picture
- More recently the Candiens have since lost six in a row
- Goaltender Carey Price has an .897 save percentage this season, which would be a career-worst over the course of a season
The Montreal Canadiens have lost six in a row, prompting concerns that there could be a sizable shakeup in the front office. Originally, it was supposed to be a year of rebuilding for the Habs but they started surprisingly well, raising expectations. Will General Manager Marc Bergevin suffer the consequences if this team now fails to meet them?
Odds Marc Bergevin is Montreal GM By June 30,2020
| Result | Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Yes | -200 |
| No | +150 |
Odds taken on Nov. 29
Habs Are in a Funk
After finishing with just 96 points last season and having a relatively quiet offseason, not much was expected of the Habs. They entered the year with a regular season point total of just 96. However, expectations quickly changed as the team started their 2019-20 campaign remarkably well.
The Habs were 7-4-2 after 13 games and 11-5-4 after 20 contests, which opened the door to the playoff conversation. However, a six-game losing streak has dropped them below the playoff cut for now and brought forth the realization that this team is not as good as they’ve showed.
Even more discouraging has been the way they’ve lost some of the games and the teams they’ve lost to. Losing to the New Jersey Devils, who are second-last in the East standings is a concern and blowing a 4-0 lead to the New York Rangers is not a good look either.
What’s Wrong With Carey Price?
The Canadiens tend to be a team that goes as far as Carey Price takes them and right now, he’s not taking them very far. If the season were to end today, Price would have some of the worst numbers of his career. Price currently has a 3.19 GAA and an .897 save percentage, which would be new career lows for him.
What’s worse is that he’s played worse as the season has progressed. Price had a save percentage of .914 in October, allowing three goals or less in eight of his 10 starts. In November, he’s down to .883 and has allowed at least three goals in seven of his 11 starts. He’s actually given up 16 goals in his last three starts.
It’s no secret that the Habs go as he does, so if he doesn’t pick it up, this team will be nowhere near the playoffs.
How Safe is Bergevin’s Job?
The challenge with Bergevin is he’s been around since 2012, so he’s had a long tenure. He’s had some mixed results, finishing second in General Manager of the Year voting in 2013-14 and the team made the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. Since then, success has faded, though, as they’ve failed to make it three of the last four years.
He’s been dealt a tricky hand this season as Price appears to be really struggling and the team has lost forward Jonathan Drouin for the next eight weeks. He’s been among the team leaders with 15 points in 19 games.
If the Habs truly tank and fall to the bottom of the standings, Bergevin will be shown the door. He’s had a long tenure and many people will feel it’s time for a change. However, I don’t see him getting canned as he’s made a number of good, under-the-radar moves.
Guys like Max Domi, Tomas Tatar, Shea Weber and even Drouin were all great pickups by the Habs – mostly on the cheap. And they’ve developed under Bergevin’s watch too. As of right now, I’d bet that Price turns it around, the Habs get back to being decent and while they won’t make the playoffs, they’ll be close.
That should be enough to keep Bergevin’s job intact for at least one more season.
Pick: Yes (-200)
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