Feud is palpable in Canadiens’ dressing room

Fans expected things to be harder on the Montreal Canadiens this season, especially with the infirmary already full before the campaign’s start and star goalie Carey Price stepping away from the game to take part in the NHL/NHLPLA Assistance program. On top of that, they are missing Shea Weber's leadership. 

I don’t think the fanbase expected it to be this hard though. The Habs are currently last in the league, the only team winless since the start of the season with a 0-4-0 record.

On Tuesday, ahead of a humiliating 5-0 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks, the Canadiens’ players and management met at centre ice to take their annual team picture, and Marc De Foy of The Journal de Montreal reported that there was an awkward vibe during the setup of the photos as there is a clear tension between owner Geoff Molson and general manager Marc Bergevin.

Bergevin is in the final year of his contract with Montreal, after having been named the general manager of the team back in 2012. During a press availability earlier this season, Bergevin chose not to give any direct answer about his future with the Canadiens. He has reportedly been offered a contract extension, but he is said to be weighing his options.

This is what Marc De Foy wrote about the palpable tension in French in his latest column:

“Geoff Molson, who was seen and heard publicly for the first time in a long time before the home opener on Saturday, and Marc Bergevin were in the front row as usual. The general manager however appeared to be there just physically. Our photographer Chantal Poirier did not see him interact with anyone during the time she strafed the scene with her camera. After the photoshoot, Bergevin went to take off his suit and put on some casual clothes. He was then seated in the back row of the stands to watch the practice. Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Paul Wilson joined him at one point, but Bergevin was spending more time watching practice and checking messages on his phone. “

De Foy believes the feud is palpable in the dressing room as well and is having a terrible effect on players. No wonder they have done so poorly since the start of the calendar.

The last time the Habs went 0-4 to open a season, both head coach Jacques Demers and general manager Serge Savard were fired in 1995-96. The Canadiens have now been outscored 15-3 en route to their worst record to start a season since 1995-96, when they opened with five straight losses.

While head coach Dominique Ducharme just signed a new contract this summer, Bergevin could be getting the boot if things don’t get better fast.

Because with this tension growing in the dressing room, status quo is not a possible route for the Habs…