Article content

Being a general manager in the National Hockey League is not an easy job, especially in a salary-cap world.

GMs are forced to make tough decisions and the Canadiens’ Marc Bergevin made one on Canada Day when he traded fan-favourite Brandon Prust to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Zack Kassian.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stu Cowan: Habs GM Bergevin made a good move getting Kassian for Prust Back to video

Prust wan’t only a fan favourite — he was a Bergevin favourite. The trade couldn’t have been easy for the GM, but as Bergevin has said: “I’m not running a boys’ camp here.”

Prust was Bergevin’s first major signing after taking over as the 17th GM in Canadiens history on May 2, 2012. On Canada Day that year, Bergevin signed Prust to a four-year, $10-million contract, taking a first step toward putting character back in the CH after the Canadiens had finished with the third-worst record in the NHL the previous season.

Prust gave his heart and soul — and bled bleu-blanc-rouge — for the Canadiens during the last three seasons, giving 100-per-cent on every shift while killing penalties, blocking shots and standing up for his teammates, never afraid to drop the gloves with players much taller and heavier than him.