Goodbye, Bob Gainey

The website TSN.ca is reporting that Bob Gainey will step down as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. The announcement will come at a press conference at 4 pm Eastern.

The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that Pierre Gauthier will take over Gainey's duties, although the newspaper was not clear whether Gauthier is the interim GM or the permanent GM.

Here's Dave Hodge of TSN, taking this stand last March, and he's not a fan of Gainey's work.



While no one can question the history and heritage of the great Canadiens franchise, it can be argued that its relevance to the league today is only that it remains an iconic figure to the people of Quebec and to francophone politics.

This franchise has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993. It has rarely approached the level of success and sophistication that the teams of late 1970s enjoyed. Instead, it has offered a middling level of style, a disappointing record in the playoffs and an embarrassingly long centennial celebration, spanning two seasons.

The fans remain willing to follow the team, and they are passionate inside the Bell Centre. But the team remains a middle-of-the-pack squad, capable of floating between the sixth and 11th spot in the Eastern Conference. (The Canadiens are 28-26-6.)

That's perhaps an achievement for Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay or the New York Islanders. That's an indictment in Quebec. Montrealers deserve better. Will the Canadiens strive to hire the best, or will the franchise draw upon its storied past by hiring another former Canadien to lead the team.

That plan hasn't worked in a while. Perhaps it's time to draw up a new plan.