The Montreal Canadiens gathered Monday to clean out their lockers and say goodbye to the terrible season of 2015-16.

Players and management all agreed that the team simply couldn’t win without Carey Price.

“That's what I brought to the players,  if you would have played 500, you would be in the playoffs today. We failed to play 500 hockey. I don't have rosy glasses, I know that. At some point the players failed, Mike failed, I failed,” said general manager Marc Bervegin.

Winger Brendan Gallagher suggested the team was unable to handle the game without Price and that panic set in.

“The biggest thing I am going to remember about this year is when there 40 games left, 30 games left, there was a bit of a sense of panic and I think if we could have had more composure it might have ended up in a different story,” he said.

Forward David Desharnais agreed.

“When you start losing a couple in a row, for sure there's a panic,” he said. “We need guys to stay together and stay composed and stay focused on the task. It's not the end of the world to lose a couple games in a row but when you’re young, sometimes that's what happens.”  

There are no controversies: Subban

P.K. Subban reaffirmed his commitment to the Canadiens and to coach Michel Therrien.

"I don't tell Michel how to coach his team. I just fall in line like everyone else," said Subban.

He did acknowledge, in an offhand way, that his ever-positive attitude could rub people the wrong way.

"Sometimes I smile and people tell me to wipe that stupid smill off my face. Doesn't mean I have to stop smiling," said Subban.

"Just because Andrei Markov isn't laughing and smiling doesn't mean that he's not pulling pranks in the dressing room. That's why I laugh," said Subban.

"The perception that people can create isn't real."

He also said that anyone who thought he didn't get along with his teammates, especially with team captain Max Pacioretty, was wrong.

"We like each other, play together, respect each other but like, do I have to go over and make out to show my affection?" said Subban.

Subban promptly went over to the often-subdued Pacioretty and gave him a bear hug.

Meanwhile Pacioretty said anyone who expects him to gush with praise, or to be fiery with anger over a loss, is looking to the wrong person.

"I want to say and do the right things but I'm not an emotional person," said Pacioretty. "Maybe that's something I can learn."

Pacioretty said on Monday that he missed several veteran players this past season, including Manny Malhotra, who was let go by the Canadiens last summer.

Brendan Gallagher, who will spend part of the off-season representing Canada at the IIHF World Championships, said the rumour that had been floating around during the season that players did not respect Subban was just plain wrong.

"When you look at what he does for this team and how much we rely on him, there isn't any time or place for what’s being said," said Gallagher.

"Everyone respects P.K. and everyone wants to follow him. He’s one of our best players. He’s a leader."

Therrien to stay, Subban will ‘probably’ stay

Molson said the team would spend the summer making changes -- or maybe not.

"When you have a disappointing season like the one we just had, no stone can be left unturned in looking for ways to improve," said Molson.

"This being said, despite subpar results this season, stability in our approach remains the focus."

Bergevin said he has no intention of getting a new coach, nor of trading Subban, but kept the door open ahead of Subban’s non-trade clause that starts July 1.

“Wayne Gretzky was traded. Am I trying to trade P.K. Subban? No. Am I trying to move Carey Price? No. Am I trying to move Pacioretty? No. Is it my job to make this team better? Yes. To move P.K., it would have to be something very special, and as a hockey man, I have to weigh all of my options, but is that a reality. Probably not,” he said.

The answer has to be somewhere, because the club could use a top-six forward. Alexander Semin and Zack Kassian didn't work out, and the search continues.

“Scoring is at a premium in this league. Obviously guys who can score at a high level are very seldom available, if never, so you have to draft one and even with Galchenyuk, you can see it takes time. For Alex Galchenyuk, it took four years even though he was the third pick overall,” said Bergevin.

Not only did Therrien get a vote of confidence from Bergevin Monday, the entire coaching staff in both Montreal and St. John’s, Newfoundland also got a vote of confidence. The only person leaving is Craig Ramsey.

 

Summer plans

Several members of the Canadiens will play over the summer at the Worlds Cup tournament.

In addition to Gallagher playing for Canada, goalie Mike Condon will play for the USA and Tomas Plekanec will represent the Czech Republic.

Subban, still recovering from a neck injury he suffered in March, will not be playing.