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Bergevin: 'It was the best decision to make' – NHL.com

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BROSSARD – General manager Marc Bergevin clarified the reasons why Stéphane Waite was relieved of his duties as the Canadiens’ goaltending coach on Tuesday night.

Waite had been working alongside Carey Price since the 2013 campaign. It was under his mentorship that Price won the Vezina Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award after his standout 2014-15 season. The former fifth-overall selection in 2005 posted a 44-16-6 record, along with a 1.96 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and nine shutouts.

Nevertheless, Price has struggled this season, compiling a 6-4-3 record, 2.96 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage in 13 outings.

A change was needed, according to Bergevin.

“It’s not an easy decision. I made the change at this point because I wanted to be 100 percent sure. Firstly, I’d like to thank Stéphane for his service to the organization. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was very important,” mentioned Bergevin, during Wednesday’s press conference at the Bell Sports Complex. “I gave this decision a lot of thought. It isn’t based on this season only. I’ve also seen a pattern over the last few years. As the general manager, my responsibility is to bring the players here. My responsibility is also to make the best tools available to our players so they can have success. I think it was the best decision to make. We’re bringing in someone with a lot of experience and credibility. It wasn’t a change just to make a change.”

Video: Bergevin on the new goaltending coach

Bergevin told Waite the news during the second intermission of the game against the Ottawa Senators so it wouldn’t be a distraction for the team.

During Wednesday’s Zoom call with reporters, he explained the process behind the decision and confirmed that Price didn’t play a role in Waite’s dismissal.

The Habs’ starter actually found out about the move like the rest of his teammates following the 3-1 victory.

“As a general manager, the day that I decide to consult a player to find out what I should do is the day that this won’t work anymore. I made a decision based on the tools I need to provide to Carey and Jake. I’m never going to consult my players,” explained Bergevin. “Carey learned of the move after the game. I never communicated with Carey to ask his opinion. The day that I start operating that way, I won’t be the good guy anymore. That’s my role as the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.”

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Merci pour ton travail acharn��, ton mentorat et tes conseils au cours des huit derni��res ann��es, St��phane.Thank you for your hard work, mentorship and guidance over the last eight years, St��phane. pic.twitter.com/4fdjhQJjGG

A man of few words, Price’s reaction wasn’t shocking at all. He took the information in stride and supported the switch.

“It was a typical reaction from Carey. He told me that he understood. He’s a proud athlete. He wants to perform at the top of his game. He knows that he has to improve and fix some things,” stressed Bergevin. “He understands that it was my decision and he supports it. It’s nothing against Stéphane. We’ll see what happens.”

Why Burke?

Bergevin also revealed why Sean Burke is taking the reigns from Waite and assuming the role of director of goaltending.

Burke has been a professional scout for the Canadiens since 2016. Before joining the organization, the 54-year-old served as the Coyotes’ goaltending coach from 2009 to 2015.

Along with his coaching experience, the former second-round selection of New Jersey played 820 regular season games for the Devils, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings.

It’s safe to say that Burke has quite a resume.

“Sean did very good work in Arizona. He has experience and he played the position. He’s capable of putting himself in a goaltender’s shoes. He knows what it’s like to have ups and downs. I based my decision on that,” affirmed Bergevin. “There’s definitely a mental aspect to goaltending. I think that Sean, with his goaltending experience, has been through a lot. He did good work in Arizona with Mike Smith, Devan Dubnyk and Ilya Bryzgalov. He has first-hand knowledge and expertise.”

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: The Canadiens have relieved St��phane Waite of his duties and have appointed Sean Burke as director of goaltending.https://t.co/hOXX0Jx5rK

The Canadiens’ GM gave Price a vote of confidence as well.

“I still believe that Carey is an excellent goaltender. He’s one of the best in the NHL,” concluded Bergevin. “He needs help. I think an experienced guy like Sean will do that.”

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Jays reliever Green and Canadian slugger O’Neill nominated for comeback player award

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NEW YORK – Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Green and Canadian slugger Tyler O’Neill of the Boston Red Sox were named finalists for the Major League Baseball Players’ Association’s American League comeback player award on Monday.

Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet was the other nominee.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. were named player of the year finalists.

The award winners, selected via player voting, will be named Saturday before Game 2 of the World Series.

Green, who missed most of the 2022 and ’23 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was a high-leverage option for the Blue Jays this past season and filled in at closer over the second half of the campaign.

The right-hander converted his first 16 save opportunities and finished the year with a 4-6 record, 17 saves and a 3.21 earned-run average over 53 appearances.

O’Neill, a native of Burnaby, B.C., also endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in ’22 and ’23.

After being traded to the Red Sox in the off-season, O’Neill set an MLB record by hitting a homer in his fifth straight Opening Day. He finished with 31 homers on the year and had an OPS of .847.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Panthers’ Reinhart named NHL first star after posting nine points over four games

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NEW YORK – Florida Panthers centre Sam Reinhart was named NHL first star of the week on Monday after leading all players with nine points over four games last week.

Reinhart had four goals, five assists and a plus-seven rating to help the Stanley Cup champions post a 3-0-1 record on the week and move into first place in the Atlantic Division.

New York Rangers left-winger Artemi Panarin took the second star and Minnesota Wild goaltenderFilip Gustavsson was the third star.

Panarin had eight points (4-4) over three games.

Gustavsson became the 15th goalie in NHL history to score a goal and had a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage over a pair of victories.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s season ended by ruptured Achilles tendon, team said he’ll have surgery

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CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson won’t finish the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the second straight year.

He’s injured again, and the Browns have new problems.

Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, collapsing as he began to run and leading some Browns fans to cheer while the divisive QB laid on the ground writhing in pain.

The team feared Watson’s year was over and tests done Monday confirmed the rupture. The Browns said Watson will have surgery and miss the rest of the season but “a full recovery is expected.”

Watson was injured on a noncontact play in the second quarter of Cleveland’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals and carted off the field in tears.

It’s the second significant injury in two seasons for Watson, who broke the glenoid (socket) bone in his throwing shoulder last year after just six starts.

The 29-year-old went down Sunday without being touched on a draw play late in the first half. His right leg buckled and Watson crumpled to the turf. TV replays showed his calf rippling, consistent with an Achilles injury.

He immediately put his hands on his helmet, clearly aware of the severity of an injury similar to the one Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained last year.

As he was being assisted by the team’s medical staff and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson grabbed a ball to begin warming up, there was some derisive cheers and boos from the stands in Huntington Bank Field.

Cleveland fans have been split over Watson, who has been accused of being sexually inappropriate with women.

The reaction didn’t sit well with several Watson’s teammates, including star end Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who was appalled by the fans’ behavior.

“We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall. To be season-altering, career-altering injury,” Garrett said. “Man’s not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does off the field or on the field because I can’t throw stones for my glass house.

“Ultimately everyone’s human and they’re disappointed just like we are, but we have to be better than that as people. There’s levels to this. At the end of the day, it’s just a game and you don’t boo anybody being injured and you don’t celebrate anyone’s downfall.”

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also admonished the uncomfortable celebration.

“I am very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years, and he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day,” he said. “The way I was raised, I will never pull on a man when he’s down, but I will be the person to lift him up.

“I know you love this game. When I first got here, I knew these were some amazing fans, but Deshaun was treated badly and now he has to overcome another obstacle. So I’m going to support him, I’m going to lift him up and I’m going to be there for him.”

The injury is yet another twist in Watson’s tumultuous time with the Browns.

Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks and five overall to Houston in 2022 to get him, with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam approving the team giving Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year $230 million contract.

With a solid roster, the Browns were desperate to find a QB who could help them compete against the top AFC teams.

The Browns had moved on from Baker Mayfield despite drafting him No. 1 overall in 2018 and making the playoffs two seasons later.

But Watson has not played up to expectations — fans have been pushing for him to be benched this season — and Cleveland’s move to get him has been labeled an abject failure with the team still on the hook to pay him $46 million in each of the next two seasons.

Watson’s arrival in Cleveland also came amid accusations by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. Two grand juries declined to indict him and he has settled civil lawsuits in all but one of the cases.

Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the league’s personal conduct policy before he took his first snap with the Browns. The long layoff — he sat out the 2021 season in a contract dispute — led to struggles once he got on the field, and Watson made just six starts last season before hurting his shoulder.

Cleveland signed veteran Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as a starter and led the Browns to the playoffs.

Before Watson got hurt this year, he didn’t play much better. He was one of the league’s lowest-rated passers for a Cleveland team that hasn’t scored 20 points in a game and is back in search of a franchise QB.

___

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