Habs fire GM Gauthier

Montreal, QC – The Montreal Canadiens have fired general manager Pierre Gauthier.

Gauthier had taken over as GM in February 2010 after Bob Gainey stepped down. He had been with the Canadiens since 2003, first as director of pro scouting and then as assistant general manager.

The Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference finals as an eight seed in the spring of 2010 and lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, but are struggling through a disappointing 2011-12 campaign.

Montreal is last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-34-14.

Gauthier fired head coach Jacques Martin in December and replaced him on an interim basis with Randy Cunneyworth. The move was somewhat unpopular since Cunneyworth did not speak French.

Before joining the Habs, Gauthier served in front office roles with the Quebec Nordiques, Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks.

Gauthier spent 12 seasons from 1981-92 in scouting for the Nordiques, then left for a three-year stint as assistant general manager with the Ducks before serving as the general manager with the Senators from 1995-98. He then returned to Anaheim as GM from 1998-2002.