Canadiens’ News and Rumors: Savard, Monahan, Price & More

In this edition of the Montreal Canadiens News & Rumors rundown, general manager (GM) Kent Hughes is definitely not on vacation anymore as he slides into the weekend having made a big trade to help the Calgary Flames with their cap situation. There is also sad news on the future of Carey Price and some bad blood between Hockey Hall of Famer (HHOF) Serge Savard and former GM Marc Bergevin.

Canadiens’ Legend Savard Still Angry

HHOF defenceman and former Canadiens GM Serge Savard shared some of his thoughts on the Marc Bergevin era. He was not shy in his critique of Bergevin’s treatment of the Canadiens’ alumni.

“The Alumni had to suffer a difficult time with Marc Bergevin. He didn’t want anyone near the (Canadiens’ dressing) room. Even when we were going to the Alumni Lounge. We had to take a detour just to go there.”

–Serge Savard (translated from French) (from ‘CH: Serge Savard criticizes the Marc Bergevin era’ Montreal Journal, 8/16/22)

Things seem to be much different now in that regard under Hughes. With the hiring of Chantal Machabee as the vice president of communications, there is clearly more of an emphasis on including Alumni with the addition of Ambassadors and their inclusion in social media outreach.

Canadiens Add Another Center

In a deal that was essentially a salary cap dump by the Calgary Flames to make room for the addition of Nazem Kadri and his salary, Hughes added 27-year-old, 6-foot-2, 200-pound centerman Sean Monahan.

Monahan, a seven-time 20-goal scorer, is coming off of his worst statistical season in the NHL that saw him score only eight goals and 23 points in 65 games played. This could be a player nearing the end of a career or may have to do with him playing through the pain of a hip injury that led to season-ending surgery, leaving him on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). The former sixth overall pick by the Flames in 2013, he has spent his entire career with the Flames and is signed for only one more season at a cap hit of $6.375 million.