Canadiens hire Marc Bergevin as general manager

(AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

MONTREAL (AP) The Montreal Canadiens hired Marc Bergevin as general manager Wednesday to replace the fired Pierre Gauthier.

The club announced Bergevin will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the team training center. Gauthier was fired on March 29 with five games left in the regular season for the Canadiens, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007 after an injury-plagued season.

The 46-year-old Montreal native served as assistant GM for the Chicago Blackhawks under Stan Bowman last season after Kevin Cheveldayoff left to become GM of the Winnipeg Jets.

"While it is never easy to lose someone of Marc Bergevin's caliber, both professionally and personally, it is a tremendous opportunity for him and his family," Bowman said in a statement.

A former defenseman with 20 years NHL experience, Bergevin has spent seven seasons in various jobs in Chicago's front office.

Bergevin played for Chicago, the New York Islanders, Hartford, Tampa Bay, Detroit, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Vancouver from 1984 to 2004.

Bergevin faces some tough decisions in Montreal, the first may be what to do with Scott Gomez and his annual $7.3-million salary cap hit. Some feel the underperforming center should either be bought out or banished to the minor leagues.

The team also needs to decide on whether to keep interim coach Randy Cunneyworth and deal with the contract status of young players, including Carey Price and P.K. Subban, ahead of the NHL draft in June.

Cunneyworth was under fire for his inability to speak French after he was promoted to interim coach midseason to replace the fired Jacques Martin.

Updated May 2, 2012