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The 2026 Canadiens have Marc Bergevin to thank

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 11:45 AM ET

In the past, Marc Bergevin has made it clear that it’s difficult to find good center players in the NHL.

It hasn’t always been easy for the former GM of the Canadiens. The GM once tried to turn Jonathan Drouin into a center, passed on Brady Tkachuk to draft a pivot and missed on Sebastian Aho.

All in vain.

However, when you look back (which you sometimes have to do with a GM, a position where you work for the long term), you can see that right now, the Canadiens’ roster bears Bergevin’s imprint at center.

Obviously, Nick Suzuki was acquired by Bergevin and also received a contract extension (which served as a scale for HuGo) from the former GM.

But we must also mention Oliver Kapanen.

The Finn(who could be in the second-center chair long-term, according to what Kent Hughes said yesterday in a press conference) was also acquired by Marc Bergevin (2021 draft) during his reign in Montreal.

Kent Hughes seemed convinced that Oliver Kapanen could be the solution as the second-line center. Are you?

Pierre McGuire: “I think he’s probably better suited to be an elite 3.”#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/VYTUCaoDOZ

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) January 7, 2026

The result? The club’s top two centers right now have been acquired by Bergevin. Ironic, isn’t it?

In fact, he’s also the one who drafted and developed Jake Evans (who’s currently injured) for the Habs. And I’m not sure how to weigh his importance in the Phillip Danault case, but it’s not 0%.

All this to say that Bergevin (who is also behind the presence of Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, and several other players in town) still finds, despite his mistakes, a way to affect the Canadiens of 2026 for the better in certain respects.

Especially at center.

Will Kent Hughes get (or has he already gotten) a center who will dislodge Kapanen? Whether it’s via the draft (hello, Michael Hage), via a signing, or via the trade market, he needs to keep working on it.

He’s tried with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook in the past, but these guys aren’t necessarily players cut out for the second center position in 2025-2026.

overtime

– Um…

The luxury tax will be an issue. https://t.co/mJMkuMtKCS

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) January 7, 2026

– Read more.

Marie-Philip Poulin, from symbol to symbol https://t.co/EflDeVWehb

– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) January 7, 2026

– It’s Noah Dobson’s birthday.

Happy birthday, Dobber!

Happy birthday, Dobber! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/wkkEMP054m

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 7, 2026

– How did he get back in the game?

Reaves, on how he got cleared to come back for the 3rd period after getting knocked down by Olivier: “I had to memorize some words, cotton, honey, arrow. There were months of the year backwards, do some number games, some balance stuff. Passed with flying colors.”

– Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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