Breaking News: Bob Gainey Steps Down as Habs GM

Submitted by George Prax on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:24

Updates:

Listen to the Canadiens press conference here.

Read Bob McKenzie's thoughts on the move here.

I will probably put up a full, organized blog on the matter sometime tomorrow. For now, join the lively discussion below!

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Udpate: TSN Reports bob Gainey has stepped down as General manager of the Montreal Canadiens.. Pierre Gauthier will take over his duties on an interim basis. Details to come.

The details are still thin, but the Canadiens have called a press conference for 4 PM to make 'an important announcement regarding the club's hockey management.'

Keep your eyes focused on TCL, this blog, and my twitter account all today as we will be covering this story as it breaks.

Prax
www.thecheckingline.com
www.twitter.com/thecheckingline

Comments 60

Phil T says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:30

PLEASE MCGUIRE PLEASE MCGUIRE PLEASE

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:34

Hopefully for the Habs' sake, Gainey is tanked. They need a new GM..

Pierre Mcguire would be HILARIOUS. hahahaha

Wally Brennan says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:35

Oh my god if you guys hire Pierre McGuire I will walk around with a hard-on for the next month

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:37

A hard on from jealousy?

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:37

"Bob Gainey is stepping down as GM of the Canadiens. Pierre Gauthier is taking over." per Mackenzie

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:37

Wrong Pierre..

Wally Brennan says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:42

I'd be excited mostly because I don't have to see him on TV 3 days a week.

I'd also like to see him as a GM and trade his entire NHL roster for Jordan Eberle.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:44

Gainey's fired... hope Gauthier is just interim.

Patrick Storto says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:46

Definitely a good move for you guys

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:52

Going to lunch, but I'll stay on top of this so keep it locked in here to this blog for all the details.

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:54

Good move. Gainey made some real questionable decisions during his tenure. Interesting to see if Gauthier will be interim or if the Habs are bringing in someone else in the summer perhaps?

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:57

Mackenzie confirming he is the interim GM.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:57

Ron Guillet wrote:

Good move. Gainey made some real questionable decisions during his tenure. Interesting to see if Gauthier will be interim or if the Habs are bringing in someone else in the summer perhaps?

Gauthier had just as much to do with the decisions as Gainey.... he's his cap guy and the head of scouting. I don't expect Gauthier to be there for a long time.

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:01

George Prax wrote:

Ron Guillet wrote:

Good move. Gainey made some real questionable decisions during his tenure. Interesting to see if Gauthier will be interim or if the Habs are bringing in someone else in the summer perhaps?

Gauthier had just as much to do with the decisions as Gainey.... he's his cap guy and the head of scouting. I don't expect Gauthier to be there for a long time.

I'll laugh my ass off if PM gets the job haha

demez says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:02

If Pierre McGuire is named the GM I'm never watching the Canadiens again.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:04

Pierre McGuire is the best person for the job, I don't understand how you guys don't see that... he's qualified, experienced, well connected, and speaks French better than Gainey. Best of all: He has no ties with the Canadiens other than being a friend to Geoff Molson.

Phil T says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:05

demez wrote:

If Pierre McGuire is named the GM I'm never watching the Canadiens again.

Why? He's the best person for the job.

Ron Guillet says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:07

I have no problem with PM as the GM. I think he'd fit well. But c'mon, the guy is ridiculous and has hard-ons for so many players it's hilarious. And the fact that he yells when he should really be speaking just makes him look obnoxious. Then there's the whole "MONSTER!" thing..

He'll be a great fit if they decide to give him the job, but it WOULD be funny.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:07

Phil T wrote:

demez wrote:

If Pierre McGuire is named the GM I'm never watching the Canadiens again.

Why? He's the best person for the job.

That's what I said!

demez says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:08

Pierre McGuire is far from the best person from the job. Wow he speaks better French than Bob Gainey and has no ties to the Canadiens. You just named two qualities I also possess, maybe I should sit at a desk analyzing the game, oh well I do, 3 qualities. Now all I need is pseudo experience and I'm qualified!

Here's a quick question to you McGuire fanboys, if this guy is so good, why hasn't he held a job in the NHL in nearly 20 years? Is he the NHL's best kept secret? Could be.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:08

Ron Guillet wrote:

If you think Pierre McGuire the color commentator is anything like Pierre McGuire the person or the potential General Manager, then you've never heard him on the radio... he hypes it up because that's his job.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:11

demez wrote:

Because he hasn't wanted a job for the last 20 years... it's been well documented that he's been offered SEVERAL GM positions, and has been in the running for several more. He's been waiting for the right time, the right team, the right opportunity, and frankly, you have no right to question what he could do. He has experience, he's won in the NHL before and he's worked with some of the best coaches and GMs in the history of the league.

George Prax says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:11

Ok, NOW I'm going to lunch

Phil T says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:11

demez wrote:

Name one person that would be a better fit as Habs' GM. And please don't say Serge Savard or Scotty Bowman.

demez says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:11

Why stop at McGuire, he's small time, let's go after the head hancho, let's get Bob McKenzie.

Wally Brennan says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:14

Mike Milbury is available!!!

Down here in the States I'm only exposed to McGuire during the early HNIC games and every Sunday on NBC, along with the WJC, trade deadline special and NHL Draft. I'll take your word that off the television he's better. I stand by my prediction of trading his entire first line and starting goalie for Eberle, though.

demez says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:15

What has he won George, as an assistant? Wow, big credentials there, are we going to go down this road again because Bob Gainey has won a cup as GM and taken a team to the finals as a coach. Assistants aren't leaders, they aren't coaches, that's why they're assistants. Look what he did as a coach, got fired in his first season and this is the guy you want to lead your team?

Elias says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:16

I've wanted Pierre McGuire as our GM as far back as when he was working for CJAD. I think he would be fantastic and is the best person for the job.

Phil T says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:18

demez wrote:

I think there's also a big difference between '94 McGuire and 2010 McGuire. He's more mature, knows the game inside and out and has probably memorized the biographies of every single person playing hockey in the universe. He's a hockey encyclopedia and that's very important when it comes to putting together a winning team with the right pieces.

demez says:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:25

Wow you named Bob McKenzie and Ron MacLean to a certain degree Mike Milbury and every other guy who's job it is to talk about hockey day in and day out. Would you take them as GM of your team as well?