Bergevin: Canadiens won't deal youth for short-term fix

The Montreal Canadiens have made one significant move ahead of the trade deadline.

However, that deal didn't include players. Rather, the team exchanged head coaches by swapping Michel Therrien for Claude Julien. With a new bench boss in place, eyes will now be on the team to see if it will make a move to aid the team's roster.

Related: Bergevin happy to have 'superstar' Julien

General Manager Marc Bergevin spoke on Wednesday and insists that while a deal is possible, he will not sacrifice the team's high-end prospects - such as Mikhail Sergachev - for a short-term fix.

"Personally, I believe we have the tools necessary," Bergevin said, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu. "In terms of trades, the state of things right now, I want to be clear on this, of giving young players like Sergachev for a fix is not happening. I will always look to improve the team, but if the price to pay is our young players who will be in the organization for the next 10, 15 years, I won't do that.

"So we won't be making a big trade like that; it won't happen. If the price drops and it's something that is reasonable for the organization in the short and long term, I'll do it. Otherwise nothing's going to happen. I want to be clear on that."

However, Bergevin didn't completely close to the door on such a deal, appearing more open to the thought if the returning player was on a contract with term.

"Depends on which player and it depends on the term," Bergevin said.

It has been long reported that the Canadiens have had interest in Arizona Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal, but that the asking price was prospect Michael McCarron, a first-round pick, and a conditional draft pick.

With Hanzal on an expiring contract and McCarron believed to be among the team's top forward prospects, Wednesday's comments now make it pretty clear why such a trade was not made.