The Montreal Canadiens have been the worst team in hockey since early December but general manager Marc Bergevin went to bat for his head coach Michel Therrien, defending him publicly Thursday.
Bergevin also updated the health status of Carey Price, saying the star goaltender could miss another month with his lower-body injury.
“We have to find a way to win without Carey Price. That’s a fact,” Bergevin said. “I thought we’d dip, yeah, but not this bad.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested Bergevin’s strategy at the trade deadline could change if his team doesn’t end the current slump.
“You look at the moves [Bergevin has] made, he’s always made the rental moves,” Friedman told Prime Time Sports. “Thomas Vanek, Jeff Petry – although he later signed him long-term – I think he was telling everybody [Thursday] that ‘if we don’t have Carey Price, I’m not doing that this year.’”
As of Thursday, Montreal was three points out of a playoff spot.