BROSSARD — If you’re a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, you’re probably feeling pretty good these days.
The Habs took a major step forward this spring.
Max Pacioretty, P.K. Subban, and Carey Price are just a few of the players that excelled in the playoffs – and on the street everyone seems to agree the team’s future looks very bright.
Yet Canadiens’ General Manager Marc Bergevin said that he thinks the Habs are not there yet.
A solid team – yes, but Bergevin said that it’s too early to call the team a Stanley Cup contender.
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“We’re moving forward,” Bergevin told reporters Monday.
“But when I look around the league there are teams that are more mature, for them you could almost say they’re a guaranteed playoff team.”
“But we’re not there yet.”
In the coming weeks, Bergevin has to make important decisions on key players with expiring contracts: both Lars Eller and P.K. Subban become restricted free agents on July 1.
Thirty-five-year-old Brian Gionta and 35-year-old Andrei Markov also become unrestricted free agents this summer; meaning if they sign with another team the Canadiens receive no compensation.
Bergevin hinted that signing Gionta would be a priority for the club.
“He’s a great leader, a great captain,” Bergevin noted.
“We’ll see what we can do with Gio.”
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