On May 2, 2012, Bergevin was named general manager and executive vice president of the Montreal Canadiens. His first additions to the Canadiens included Rick Dudley as assistant general manager, Scott Mellanby as director of player personnel, Martin Lapointe as director of player development and Michel Therrien as head coach. Other additions included the hiring of Kirk Muller as an associate coach in 2016, as well as Gerard Gallant, J. J. Daigneault and Clément Jodoin as assistant coaches. Bergevin also appointed former Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois as player development coach on June 13, 2012. He finished second in voting for the General Manager of the Year award for the 2013–14 season.