TheBlaster_mtl Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Habs ink Marc-André Bergeron to a one-year contract Tuesday, 06.10.2009 / 4:20 PM / News Montreal Canadiens PRESS RELEASE MONTREAL – Canadiens General manager Bob Gainey announced Tuesday that the Club agreed to a one-year contract with defenseman Marc-André Bergeron. As per Club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. A native of Trois-Rivières, Québec, Bergeron played in 72 of the Minnesota Wild 82 regular-season games in 2008-09 recording 32 points (14 goals including seven on the power-play, and 18 assists), served 30 penalty minutes and had a +5 plus/minus rating with 16:58 average ice time per game. Half of his goal production came on the power play and he also tallied three game-winning goals. The 5’9’’ and 198 lbs defenseman is entering his 8th NHL season having played 339 NHL games with Edmonton, NY Islanders, Anaheim and Minnesota. Bergeron recorded 160 points (62 goals, 98 assists), 161 penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating with 36 tallies on the power play. In 2005-06 he reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers losing to the Carolina Hurricanes. In 24 NHL career playoff games he registered six points (3 goals, 3 assists). A former star defenseman with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Shawinigan Cataractes (recording 101 points in 69 games in 2000-01), Bergeron recorded 230 points and served 529 penalty minutes in 249 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular season games. He was voted to the QMJHL and the Canadian Hockey League First All-Star Teams in 2001 and selected Top Defenseman in the CHL in the same year. In just his second year with the American Hockey League Hamilton Bulldogs in 2003, he was voted to the league’s Second All-Star Team. Marc-André Bergeron will report to the Hamilton Bulldogs tomorrow for conditioning purposes. The Bulldogs will be playing their next game in Rockford, on October 9, against the IceHogs. Bergeron will be available to the media later today through a conference call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habsinottawa Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 i am not surprised, and welcome to the team marc-andre! hope you fill markovs hole at least a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dintrox12 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 The deal is apparently for 750,000 and 1 year. as per RDS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianMike Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Bonne chance Marc! hey at least he is FRENCH, the French media will calm down a little about the lack of French players playing for the Habs this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlaster_mtl Posted October 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I've heard nothing but bad things about his defensive play, and nothing but good things about his power play skills...hopefully Martin only uses him on the PP...but then you have to wonder...couldn't Weber have done this job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antonio20066 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 The Bulldogs will be playing their next game in Rockford, on October 9, against the IceHogs. Bergeron will be available to the media later today through a conference call. The October 9 game vs Rockford is the Bulldogs home opener in HAMILTON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koreysecord1992 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Welcome to the club. It'll be a love/hate relationship with a name like Bergeron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabbiesMan Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I can't wait to see this guy bust a slapper. He's the next Streit or Souray. Does anyone know why a +5 guy, with 14 goals in 72 games didn't get picked up during the summer?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FanFromAB Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I live out west and had a chance to watch him play a lot when he was with Edmonton. His defensive skills are mediocre at best but his shot and puck control are very good. I like this addition but have mixed feelings since I think that bringing guys up through our system would have been then better route. I suppose the added depth and the 750000price tag are attractive! He's a better Bouillon in my opinion! He had 14G last year and 32 PTS, so I think that he will be a very nice addition all in all! EDIT: He's a WAY BETTER BOUILLON!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtlhabsfan_mtl Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 For the money I don't mind to much, but i think defense should have been a priority over offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-1 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I've heard nothing but bad things about his defensive play, and nothing but good things about his power play skills...hopefully Martin only uses him on the PP...but then you have to wonder...couldn't Weber have done this job? Were gonna roll at 7 d man for a while probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-1 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I can't wait to see this guy bust a slapper. He's the next Streit or Souray. Does anyone know why a +5 guy, with 14 goals in 72 games didn't get picked up during the summer?? defensive abilities, or lack there of. But hey, I am willing to give him a chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brysonom27 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 good addition...hopefully used in the right spots he can really help..good price too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickThaHitman42 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 won't be long befor we send weber down to hamilton and bring up bergeron, i dont think we woulda signed him to play for the Bulldogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-1 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 won't be long befor we send weber down to hamilton and bring up bergeron, i dont think we woulda signed him to play for the Bulldogs 2 months without O'byrne, i don't see why Webber should go back down before that. Especially with the fact that we play most of our games on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruuvimeisseli Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Way to slow down weber's developement by signing him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avsgirl621 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Way to slow down weber's developement by signing him Mixed feelings on this one. I guess Bob figured we need a puck moving D-Man to get the puck to our $20mm first line forwards. Also not sure if a guy like Bergeron is going to help with the 40+ shots per game we are giving up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsprite18 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Great news! (I think ) He was one of the anchors of the great Bulldogs team of 02-03 (some say it was the best AHL club ever!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChitownHabby Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Logical move but yet another veteran signing to play in a spot that could have been filled by a young d-man. We have Carle, Belle, Henry and of course Subban down on the farm. In my opinion, it's a low risk high reward move, if he pans out as a 6th/7th d-man then its great, just wish we could have given Weber a couple of games. I guess Bob felt now was the time to grab him, let him shake off the rust, while Weber gets his feet wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlgib21 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Mixed feelings on this one. I guess Bob figured we need a puck moving D-Man to get the puck to our $20mm first line forwards. Also not sure if a guy like Bergeron is going to help with the 40+ shots per game we are giving up. I guess Breezy wasn't available,so BG got the next best thing. I might as well forget about our new toughness and heart on this team,another pipsqeak to get pushed around. I really hate this move,and I really hope BG gets canned.I can't stand him as a GM anymore,I hope the Molsons do the right thing and kick him to the curb before he screws this team up any worse than he has the last 6 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knucklesnilan Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Logical move but yet another veteran signing to play in a spot that could have been filled by a young d-man. We have Carle, Belle, Henry and of course Subban down on the farm. In my opinion, it's a low risk high reward move, if he pans out as a 6th/7th d-man then its great, just wish we could have given Weber a couple of games. I guess Bob felt now was the time to grab him, let him shake off the rust, while Weber gets his feet wet. Obviously the brain trust does not think the young defense is ready for primetime and I don't think I am going out on a limb stating that, why else would they sign 4 free agent d men? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Kos-yn-31Price Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I guess Breezy wasn't available,so BG got the next best thing. I might as well forget about our new toughness and heart on this team,another pipsqeak to get pushed around. I really hate this move,and I really hope BG gets canned.I can't stand him as a GM anymore,I hope the Molsons do the right thing and kick him to the curb before he screws this team up any worse than he has the last 6 years. Your absolutely right, Weber 5'11" 193 lbs, Subban 6'0" 206 lbs, Carle 6'0" 203 lbs really makes him look like a shrimp ... I guess the reason we got a veteran instead of relying on our prospects is because he has experience playing in the NHL and the organization doesn't feel the prospects aren't ready to be thrown to the wolves... So many people complain about bringing Latendresse, Pacioretty and Price up too quickly, yet want to throw our defensemen in right away... Apart from goaltending, defence is the hardest position to get use to in the NHL... They have to play against much bigger and faster guys than they are use to... If Gainey takes his time with these guys you won't hear a complaint from me... Welcome to the team Bergeron, hope the stay in Hamilton doesn't take too long... Give Kostitsyn a smack in the head for us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemsky83_09 Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 won't be long befor we send weber down to hamilton and bring up bergeron, i dont think we woulda signed him to play for the Bulldogs He was signed for the Habs, he's down with the Dogs for a conditioning stint. Two weeks at the most. He's probably been skating somewhat to be close to game shape, waiting for just this thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey_gal89 Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 M-A at 750-k is a smart pick-up. It's good insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynch_mtl Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Seems like an ok pickup, but his vlaue comes at the price he signed for. I hope he has a good year. Welcome aboard MAB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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