Now that Marc Bergevin's introduced himself to the populace (in extraordinary franglais, no less), it seems more appropriate to share an opinion on whether or not his nomination is a good one. Then again, nothing of substance regarding the plans ahead was revealed at yesterday's press conference, regardless of the emphasis Geoff Molson placed on Bergevin's communication skills as a differentiation from the myriad of very qualified candidates.

We saw first hand that Bergevin's humor is another distinct element, one that's bound to serve him well in hard times sure to follow over his tenure in Montreal.

We're more interested in his serious side, and how he'll deal with the very serious nature of the decisions that lie in wait. Starting with the assembly of a premiere coaching staff; one that for the time being includes Randy Cunneyworth as an assistant.

And then, down to the business of draft plans, cap decisions regarding dead-weight contracts held by you-know-who, unrestricted free agency, trades--all of it culminating in the restoration of hope. Right?

By the time Canadiens training camp rolls around, the fans of this franchise--disenchanted by the emotionally detached, humorless, voiceless Bergevin predecessor (who will remain nameless in this blog)--will be frothing at the mouth for good Habs hockey, and the first sign of all wrong put to bed. Nice fairy-tale image, right?

One of the smartest things Bergevin said yesterday in Brossard, was that he was unwilling to put any kind of timeline on the Canadiens redemption as a playoff hopeful or Stanley Cup contender. He did, however, serve notice that he believes in the core that's currently in place to build around, noting that having Carey Price puts the Canadiens at an advantage to climb the ranks of the Eastern Conference quickly. Amen.

Tricky will be the negotiation with another key element of the team's promising core, P.K. Subban.

Subban is vying for his second NHL contract, and with the CBA set to be renegotiated, the structure for contracts of players in his category could be subject to change. Not that Subban, in his first two seasons and a playoff, has put together the kind of profile that would justify a holdout ala Drew Doughty.

One thing the Canadiens managed to do with Price and Pacioretty was keep their second contracts below the punishing amount that's been doled out to other young stars across the league. Granted, both players had their struggles before coming to terms on those respective two-year contracts.

Subban too has seen his ups and downs, but his value as a top-level defenseman at such a young age could provide Bergevin with his greatest challenge--and that's saying something given the depth of his mandate.

One thing Subban will have to prove to Bergevin is that he puts the team above all else, something he's been accused of not doing by his previous bosses.

Bergevin put a lot of emphasis on the team-concept, which Molson made clear was among the most attractive talking points enabling him reach the decision that Bergevin was the man for the job. That in itself is a window into the fallacies of last year's campaign.

But enough about last year. This is about the future, and the promise of it being much brighter. A new era, with a new GM who seeks to infuse new blood and life into the organization. Settle in for an action-packed summer. You deserve one after a season like that.

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