Bergeron On New Canadiens GM Hughes: ‘Super Smart Hockey Mind’

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron was sad to learn that new Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes won’t be his agent anymore but he was more thrilled for Hughes, who has also become a close friend.

“It’s very well-deserved. I’m super happy for him,” Bergeron told the Boston media after he and his teammates were throttled 7-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

“Obviously, it’s one of those things where he’s been with me since the beginning,” said Bergeron who entered the NHL as an 18-year-old rookie in the 2003-04 season. “So, sad to see him go as my agent, but he’s still going to be a friend, and wish him all the best. Super smart hockey mind, loves the game and I think he is excited for the challenge. Best of luck to him, I know he’s going to be great.”

So who is Bergeron’s new agent?

“It’s me, myself, and I,” the Bruins captain joked. “I’m actually with Phil Lecavalier now. So I’m just staying with Quartexx, basically, is what’s happening right now.”

Phil Lecavalier is the brother of former NHLer and West Island native (like Hughes) Vincent Lecavalier and was a partner of Hughes at Quartexx Agency which is based in Montreal. Hughes represented a host of NHL stars, including Patrice Bergeron, Kris Letang, Anthony Beauvillier, and Darnell Nurse. He joined Quartexx Management in 2016 following a merger with the MFive Sports firm, with whom he was previously affiliated. At the time Hughes joined the Canadiens, he represented more than 20 players under NHL contracts.

For Montreal Canadiens fans dreaming of a Bergeron-Hughes reunion with the Habs, Bergeron is actually set to become an unrestricted free agent next July but don’t get your hopes up Habs fans! Bergeron is on record as saying he ‘hated the Montreal Canadiens’ as he grew up a Quebec Nordiques fan in L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec. He also likely wants to retire with the Bruins and not with their archrival, the Montreal Canadiens.

Hughes, Montreal Canadiens executive vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, and owner Geoff Molson were slated to meet the Montreal media on Wednesday at 4 PM ET.