The decision to trade P.K. Subban was not an easy one for Marc Bergevin.
In an interview with Dave Stubbs of NHL.com, the Montreal Canadiens general manager maintains the trading of the fan favorite and Norris Trophy-winning defenseman to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber was purely a hockey move designed to improve his club.
Believing he accomplished just that, Bergevin told Stubbs it's time to move on:
There was a lot of thought going into this (trade) prior to that day, a lot of discussion internally. I had talked to my hockey people. At the end of the day, I make the decision. It's on my shoulders, and I get that. But once I make that decision, I don't look back anymore.
It's like the old expression, 'If you're looking in the rearview mirror, you don't see what's ahead of you.' There was a well-thought process of how and why. As a group we talked, and then I made the final decision, and after that, I move on. If you're asking me 'since that day …' well, I have moved on, yes.
Bergevin also did his best to quell rumblings that Subban's personality didn't mesh with the coaching staff and front office.
"I always say, 'You don't want 23 robots.' I have no issues with personality. Everybody's different, everybody brings different things to the table. But at some point I had to make a hard decision where I thought I could make the team better. That's when we pulled the trigger," Bergevin said.
"And those who insist the trade was made to please (coach) Michel Therrien? That's (nonsense). Mike didn't know anything - anything - about the trade until after it was made."
He added he was given the blessing of team owner Geoff Molson to do what he thought was necessary to improve the team, with full confidence that any move is assessed from all angles prior to being made official.
Bergevin also confirmed Weber will wear the alternate captain's 'A' on his jersey next season.
Whether the Canadiens' faithful can move on as quickly as the GM remains to be seen.
The full interview can be read here.
