Pierre Gervais reveals Marc Bergevin's obsession with numbers with a Jesperi Kotkaniemi example

«Marc was very fond of choosing player numbers. Most other general managers I have known, they didn't care! Marc, with his old mentality, liked to have the lowest possible numbers. But with all the numbers retired, there aren't many more numbers available, I'm on the eve of dropping into triple digits! But soon that won't be my problem anymore."

«I always try to give the lowest possible number, otherwise it falls into the 50-60-70-80, so-called racing tank numbers. Young players entering the league are increasingly choosing high numbers. He chooses when he makes the team, in agreement with the general manager. In the case of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, for example, Marc initially wanted him to take a smaller number."

«Kovalev is really cool. To date, he's probably the guy with the most raw talent I've seen with the Canadiens. It's not Guy Lafleur, but it's not far below. He has a great personality, he is endearing. I remained friends with him."