Montreal Canadiens general manager and former Chicago Blackhawks executive Marc Bergevin says he didn't know about the sexual assault allegations made against ex-video coach Bradley Aldrich.
"There was a meeting that I've heard that was done in Chicago," Bergevin said Sunday. "I was not part of any meeting and I was not part of any decision based on that. I was not aware of what was going on at the time, so you can go on the record with that."
On Friday, former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti said Chicago's management group met around the time of the Western Conference Final in 2010 to discuss the allegations made by players against Aldrich. He added that the players told skills coach Paul Vincent, who then took it to the team's brass and asked them to contact the police, but they refused.
Bergevin was the Blackhawks director of player personnel that season.
Two former players recently filed lawsuits against the organization.
In May, an unnamed player said Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate. Earlier this month, a former high school player in Michigan also sued the franchise, saying Aldrich did the same to him in 2013 after the Blackhawks wrote the coach a positive reference letter that led to him working at the school.
Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010. The team promoted Bergevin to assistant GM in June 2011, and the Canadiens named him GM just less than a year after that.
It is said that history repeats itself - a sentiment that should inspire both franchises contesting this Stanley Cup Final.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning, these playoffs have followed a script nearly identical to that of last year's championship run. After beating a team of plucky underdogs in the first round, they dispatched fellow Cup hopefuls in five games in the second before overcoming the New York Islanders in the third. And, for the second year in a row, waiting for Tampa in the final is a surprise opponent led by an interim head coach, a B.C.-born captain, and Corey Perry.
History runs much deeper for the Montreal Canadiens as they conjure memories from their 1993 Stanley Cup triumph. Armed with a shutdown center from Quebec, a budding American winger, and a generational goalie, they're on a playoff run that feels eerily similar to that victorious campaign. They overcame a two-game deficit against their rivals in the first round, swept Round 2, and won a pair of overtime games in the third to reach the final.
Can the Canadiens channel the Ghosts of the Forum to end the longest Cup drought in franchise history? Or will the Lightning secure an identical end to their sequel?
Lightning (-260) vs. Canadiens (+220)
Regular-season stats
LIGHTNING
STAT
CANADIENS
36-17-3
Record
24-21-11
53.22 (10th)
xGF%*
53.00 (11th)
53.91 (7th)
CF%*
54.31 (6th)
51.91 (11th)
HDCF%*
51.88 (12th)
8.34 (14th)
SH%*
7.52 (25th)
.921 (10th)
SV%*
.914 (21st)
22.2 (9th)
PP%
19.2 (17th)
84.2 (4th)
PK%
78.5 (23rd)
*five-on-five
Playoff stats
LIGHTNING
STAT
CANADIENS
12-6
Record
12-5
51.40 (7th)
xGF%*
52.76 (6th)
50.02 (9th)
CF%*
49.98 (10th)
54.21 (4th)
HDCF%*
52.63 (5th)
7.58 (5th)
SH%*
6.66 (8th)
.938 (3rd)
SV%*
.933 (5th)
37.7 (2nd)
PP%
20.9 (7th)
83.0 (4th)
PK%
93.5 (1st)
47.7 (11th)
FOW%
49.2 (9th)
*five-on-five
The Canadiens have been underdogs in every series, and for the third time, oddsmakers are giving them less than a 33% chance of winning. The last time a Cup finalist was longer than a -200 favorite was when the Vancouver Canucks were favored over the Boston Bruins in 2011 - also the last time a Canadian team made the final. The Bruins won in seven games.
Though the Canadiens may feel they're again being disrespected after toppling several big favorites, the Lightning have been the league's best team for the greater part of three years. Tampa largely coasted to the Cup last year despite missing Steven Stamkos, and the team is back nine months later with a full complement of stars. Still, odds of -260 suggest the Lightning have a 72.2% chance of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. They're worthy favorites, but that's rather aggressive.
Montreal's underdog status throughout these playoffs is largely down to its 18th-place finish in a regular season plagued by injuries, COVID-19 stoppages, and an impossibly condensed schedule. The Canadiens were also mostly without Cole Caufield - a true superstar in the making who has revolutionized the team's offense - and interim coach Dominique Ducharme had just four practices to implement his system between his February takeover and the end of the season in May. Ducharme has had far more practice time with the team since the start of the playoffs, and the returns of a structure that's stymied three of the league's best offenses this postseason are starting to show.
Montreal's regular-season record left plenty to be desired, but the stats above show just how similar these teams have been over the course of the regular season and playoffs. Remove the club names, and the numbers suggest a tight final is on tap - one much closer than the odds indicate.
The Canadiens are also currently playing far above those numbers. Montreal owns a playoff-best 56.06% share of the expected goals at five-on-five since Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, getting the better of a Vegas Golden Knights team that's typically dominant in that regard. Montreal is peaking at the ideal time, playing its best hockey when it matters most.
Tampa's largest statistical edges in the regular season were in save percentage and on special teams. Those gaps have narrowed considerably in the playoffs. Carey Price has matched Andrei Vasilevskiy every step of the way; splitting hairs over who's been the better netminder is an exercise in futility.
Vasilevskiy leads the playoffs in goals saved above average and goals saved above expected. Price sits second in both. But that says more about their respective defense corps than about the goaltenders themselves. Vasilevskiy has faced 154 high-danger shots against compared to Price's 120, and while their save percentages are virtually identical, the greater quality allowed by Tampa has sparked Vasilevskiy's edge in goals saved above expected. The bottom line: Two of the world's best netminders are both at the top of their game right now, and they're about to go toe to toe.
Tampa's other regular-season edge - special teams - could be the key in this series when the Lightning's power play clashes with Montreal's penalty kill. The defending champions are clicking at nearly 40% on the man advantage and have scored at least one power-play goal in 11 playoff games. They've had six contests with at least two power-play goals and have tallied three on three occasions - once in each series.
That said, special teams can be streaky, and the Lightning came back down to earth slightly in the semifinals, failing to register a power-play goal in four of their last five games against the Islanders. They now face the hottest special-teams unit of the postseason: a Canadiens penalty kill that hasn't allowed a power-play goal since Game 5 of Round 1 and has killed off 30 straight penalties since.
Nikita Kucherov's status bears monitoring here. If his injury limits his effectiveness, it will be a significant blow for a Tampa power play that's been especially lethal with two dangerous shooters on the half-wall. The play on which Kucherov appeared to suffer the injury suggests a broken rib (or ribs) is likely. Such an ailment takes weeks to heal and would certainly limit his effectiveness. Without Kucherov in the regular season, Tampa was ninth in power-play efficiency at only 22.2%. He logged just 16:29 of ice time in Game 7 against New York, and if he's not at full strength against Montreal, the Lightning's 37.7% success rate in the playoffs will likely plummet.
Of all the matchups in this series, the special teams battle feels like the most significant. If the Canadiens can't keep the Lightning power play at bay, this final could be over in a hurry. But if Montreal's penalty kill stays hot, the underdogs have a real shot at the upset - because they aren't at all out of their depth at five-on-five.
The Canadiens have been a strong five-on-five team for the last several years, ranking third in expected goals for percentage and Corsi For percentage over the past three seasons. That hasn't always translated to overall success for a team held back by the league's 25th-ranked PDO - a harbinger for positive regression. Part of Montreal's low five-on-five shooting percentage can be attributed to an absence of quality scorers up front. While the recent uptick has been a long time coming, it's largely a product of the arrivals of Tyler Toffoli and Caufield and the emergence of Nick Suzuki.
In addition to a low PDO, special teams and goaltending previously plagued the Canadiens. That's all changed over the past month, with a new coaching staff effecting positive changes and Price rediscovering his Vezina form. So while Montreal's playoff run is largely viewed as an underdog story, there's plenty of evidence to prompt a reframing of this team's success. The ability to drive play has always been there, but only recently have the rest of the pieces fallen into place - Ducharme and general manager Marc Bergevin deserve a ton of credit for that.
The continued development of Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi and the experienced play of Phillip Danault and Eric Staal have also provided the Canadiens with the center depth they've craved for years. That newfound depth gives them a real chance to match up with Tampa's forward corps.
On the back end, there's very little separating these teams. Tampa does well to spread out its blue-line talent, but Erik Cernak has struggled, Jan Rutta doesn't belong on the top pairing, and Victor Hedman is clearly operating at less than full strength. Montreal's third pairing can be a liability, but the team has competently sheltered the duo, with a top four that's been nothing short of excellent carrying the bulk of the burden.
The Canadiens have already slain multiple giants in these playoffs. The Lightning - a team with elite star power, depth, goaltending, and coaching - are the greatest threat of all, but they aren't exactly Goliath to Montreal's David. There's a clear recipe for success for the Canadiens in this series, with goaltending and special teams the key ingredients. It will require near-flawless execution from all involved, but they can finish the job.
Pick: Canadiens (+220)
Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
"He's got a Hall of Fame career if he retires right now," BriseBois said, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "That's just the reality."
BriseBois was the director of player operations with the Canadiens in 2005 when the team selected Price with the fifth overall pick. He said the club's management considered Price a "generational prospect."
Price has long been viewed as one of the league's elite netminders. He's won virtually every award and championship that a goalie can throughout his career, except a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy.
The 33-year-old led Team Canada to gold at the world juniors in 2007, at the Olympics in 2014, and at the world championship in 2016 with dominant performances. He was named the NHL's MVP in 2015 while also winning the Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award - becoming the first goalie to win all four in the same season.
Price's regular-season play has declined significantly over the past few years, and his performance has been inconsistent. However, the veteran has proven in the playoffs he can still be one of the league's top goalies.
The Canadiens are in the midst of an improbable playoff run, and they're playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. Price has been a big reason for the club's postseason success while recording a .934 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average.
Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia missed Sunday's practice due to NHL COVID-19 protocols and won't travel with the team to Tampa, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin told reporters, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.
Bergevin said there will be an update on the 28-year-old's status Monday morning. Montreal faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.
Armia tested positive for COVID-19 in late March, which resulted in the postponement of several Canadiens games.
Jake Evans slotted into the lineup in Armia's absence. Evans, 25, hasn't played since being injured by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of Round 2.
#Habs practice (Armia missing): Lehkonen - Danault - Gallagher Toffoli - Suzuki - Caufield Byron - Kotkaniemi - Anderson Evans - Staal - Perry Tatar - Frolik - Belzile
Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme has been away from the team since Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights after testing positive for COVID-19. He's expected to return for Game 3 of the finals after completing his 14-day quarantine.
Armia has been a key player for the Canadiens during their playoff run, playing alongside veterans Eric Staal and Corey Perry on Montreal's fourth line.
With the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the books, theScore counts down the top players of the postseason so far in all three positional groups. Players on eliminated teams are eligible for this list, as these rankings are explicitly based on cumulative performances from the first three rounds.
MacKinnon might seem like a surprise inclusion here because he didn't play in the semifinal round. But he's still tied for second in playoff goals and tied for fifth in postseason points entering the Stanley Cup Final. The Avalanche superstar also ranks second among qualified forwards (who played more than six games) in points per contest in the playoffs, illustrating just how dominant he was despite Colorado's second-round exit.
Games played aside, MacKinnon averaged more ice time than anyone else on this list. In addition to scoring nearly a goal per game during his shorter stint, the 2021 Hart Trophy finalist and perennial candidate is still tied for second in even-strength goals (six) in these playoffs. He's also tied for fourth in even-strength points.
All of this is remarkable considering most of his counterparts have gone one round further in the playoffs. Alex Killorn and William Karlsson narrowly edged out MacKinnon in points through the semis, but both required nearly twice as many games to do so.
4. Tyler Toffoli, Montreal Canadiens
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
17
5
9
17:52
51.55
Toffoli has been a perfect fit with the Canadiens, and the skilled forward's regular-season success has carried over into the playoffs. Toffoli leads all Montreal skaters in points heading into the Cup Final and is tied for the team lead in goals.
The former Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks winger notched a goal and three assists in six games against the Golden Knights in the semifinal round after collecting two markers - both game-winners - and three helpers in the Canadiens' sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.
Toffoli has always driven possession well, and that trend has continued in these playoffs. Without his contributions, Montreal would be depending even more on Carey Price's heroics.
3. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Scott Audette / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
18
7
10
15:47
55.54
It's been a productive postseason for Stamkos, the Lightning captain who missed all but one of the defending champions' playoff games last year due to injury.
Stamkos' ice time has noticeably declined compared to his regular-season workload, but he's made the most of his more limited opportunities. Most impressively, Tampa Bay has a larger share of the goals scored at five-on-five with Stamkos on the ice than it does with either of his two teammates who rank above him here.
The 13-year veteran enters the Cup Final tied for third in playoff points in 2021. Stamkos also won 53.4% of the 163 faceoffs he took during the first three rounds, proving the steady center's value extends beyond the scoresheet.
2. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
18
5
22
18:04
51.5
Kucherov leads the NHL in postseason points this year, and his excellence is especially impressive considering he missed the entire regular season.
The 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner is driving possession at five-on-five and logging a considerable amount of ice time for someone who had such a long layoff, even if his status as the Lightning's most dangerous catalyst demands it.
Though Kucherov has contributed to more playoff goals than anyone else in 2021 entering the championship round, he's scored only a handful of his own and only one of those came at even strength. Kucherov is a force on the power play but hasn't been as effective in more difficult situations while averaging nearly a minute less on the ice than a certain linemate who tops our list.
1. Brayden Point, Lightning
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
18
14
6
18:56
51.76
Scoring is the object of the game, and while Kucherov's offensive output has primarily consisted of assists, Point leads all playoff skaters in goals by six through three rounds. Only half of the latter star's markers entering the final round were of the power-play variety,a far more impressive feat than Kucherov's four goals with the man advantage out of five in total.
Point went on an absolute tear in the second and third rounds. He scored in nine straight games, tallying in the Lightning's final three contests against the Carolina Hurricanes before doing so in each of the first six games against the New York Islanders.
He's also buried three game-winners this postseason - tying him for the league lead - while Kucherov hasn't scored any. They were largely legit winners, too, as two of the three games in question were decided by Point's markers and the other was a two-goal victory.
The Chicago Blackhawks' management group held a meeting during the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Playoffs to discuss players' accusations about video coach Bradley Aldrich sexually assaulting them.
Former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti confirmed the events to TSN's Rick Westhead on Friday, while adding the team chose not to take further action.
Torchetti - who was the club's second-highest-ranking coach from 2007-2010 - revealed the players informed then-skills coach Paul Vincent, who went to management to tell the executives what the players said Aldrich had done.
Vincent said two of Chicago's players told him Aldrich had abused them around the time of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on May 16, 2010. One day after Vincent asked team sports psychologist James Gary to discuss the matter, the two men met with team president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and vice-president of hockey operations Al MacIssac. Vincent wanted them to take the allegations to the Chicago Police Department's sex crimes unit, but they declined.
In May, an unnamed former Blackhawks player sued the organization, claiming Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate. The player said he mentioned it to a team-employed sports psychologist, who told him it had been his own fault.
In early June, a former high school hockey player in Michigan also sued the franchise, claiming Aldrich sexually assaulted him in 2013. The former high school player said the team gave Aldrich a positive job reference letter despite knowing Chicago players had accused the video coach of committing sexual assault, according to Westhead.
That former player added that the club's letter had allowed Aldrich to get the job at the high school where the former player said the video coach assaulted him.
"I’ve played with some really good goaltenders in my career and playing with Marc-Andre is a privilege," Lehner said during his season exit interview Saturday. "We’ve grown a lot closer to each other and it’s been a pretty special couple of seasons here."
When the Golden Knights signed Lehner to a five-year, $25-million contract in October, many figured he would overtake Fleury for the starting role. However, with Lehner sidelined for much of the season with an injury, it turned out to be a different story.
Fleury put together one of the best seasons of his career and was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the first time. He appeared in 36 games to Lehner's 19 while recording a 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
Even though Lehner was healthy heading into the postseason, the Golden Knights stuck with Fleury for all seven games in Round 1 against the Minnesota Wild. Lehner ended up appearing in just three playoff games, with two coming in Round 3 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Head coach Pete DeBoer made it clear he's aware he was lucky to have the tandem this season and devoted much of his team's success to the goalies, but said "next year is a different year," according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. He pointed to the fact next season the schedule won't be condensed.
Fleury has just one more season remaining on his contract before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. During his exit interview Saturday, Fleury said he hasn't given much thought about the future but hopes he can finish his career in Vegas.
Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said Saturday he should return to the team's bench for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Las Vegas after Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Golden Knights and has been away from the Canadiens since. He's been symptom-free since his diagnosis but is serving a 14-day quarantine.
The Canadiens beat Vegas in six games to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 under the guidance of assistant coach Luke Richardson while Ducharme watched from home. The 48-year-old said he's pleased with what the team has accomplished.
"I think, right now, our guys are not thinking. They're just executing, just playing," Ducharme said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I think that's what we wanted to create was for things to become automatic, just second nature. ... I'm really enjoying seeing the team play that way together."
The Canadiens will face the Lightning in Game 1 in Tampa on Monday, with Ducharme on track to return at Montreal's Bell Centre on July 2.
