The Canadiens are stronger after a busy off-season, Canadiens' Marc Bergevin says

After a disastrous 2015-2016season that saw the Canadiensmiss the playoffs, general manager Marc Bergevin is hoping hisbusy off-seasonwhich included shipping out stardefencemanP.K.Subbanwill pay dividends.

In an interview on Radio-Canada's Gravel le matin, Bergevin said Tuesday he believes the Habsare better off this year, and not just because Carey Price is healthy.

Here are some highlights of that conversation, which was in French. It hasbeen edited for clarity and length.

What are your expectations for this year?

We made the necessary changes to improve the team, and we're hoping for positive results.With the salary cap there's lots of competition, so the first goal is always to make the playoffs.And every team that makes the playoffs has a chance.

If Carey Price gets injured again, is the team better prepared?

Carey is certainly the most important player on our team, and we saw that even on Team Canada.With all their good players, he was a key contributor. But we have a strong young core with good veterans, with the addition of Shea Weber and Andrew Shaw.And we added offensive punch with AlexanderRadulov and youngsters like Artturi Lehkonen and 18-year-oldMikhail Sergachev. The attitude inside the dressing room is very positive.

Did you think trading P.K. Subbanfor SheaWeber would generate as much controversy as it did?

Yes and no. For me, the goal is always to improve the team. And when a player like SheaWeber became available, we had a trade that we believed improves the teamnowand for several years to come.

Is rookie defenceman Mikhail Sergachev here to stay?

The player makes the decision for us.He's a young talent.We know him well. He's a good person with good values.As for whether he stays for the full season or goes back to junior, we're not there yet.

Is there some meaning in the decision to name Kirk Muller as an associate coach, rather than as an assistant?

There's not a big difference.Associate coaches have more experience, generally, and are given more responsibility. Kirk Muller has a lot of experience as an assistant and as an associate coach.But at the end of the day, it's Michel Therrien's team. Michel Therrien is an excellent coach with a lot of experience.

• ANALYSIS: NHL season preview: MontrealCanadiens