Passing The Torch - Bob Gainey Steps Down

If it was bound to happen eventually, it was going to happen on his terms. Bob Gainey stepped down as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens and named Pierre Gauthier as Executive Vice President and general manager. "I've done my best and now it's time for me to pass the torch," Gainey said on Monday. The timing for this announcement  did catch many off guard as the Canadiens were not having a dominating start to the season but currently sit 6th in the Eastern conference and are 3-1 in their last four games. Gainey suggested at his press conference that he had run his course in Montreal, and it was necessary for him to part ways on a personal level. "I believe that the general manager position requires a long-term vision and a long-term commitment. At this point, I'm not prepared to make a commitment of four or five or six more years in this position," said Gainey who will stay with the front office in an advisory role.

Gainey was hired in 2003 becoming the 15th general manager in franchise history. The Canadiens made the playoffs in four of the five full seasons under Gainey. The club produced a 241-176-46-7 record and .569 winning percentage. Some of Gainey's highlights as GM are the acquisition of Alexei Kovalev from the Rangers for Josef Balej and a second-round pick, the drafting of Carey Price 5th overall at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and the free agent signing this summer of Michael Cammalleri.

"I'm leaving the team I love the most in the hands of the man I trust the most," said Gainey. "I look forward to assisting Pierre and the team in our pursuit of our 25th Stanley Cup." This is not the first time Gauthier will be taking over for Gainey mid-season. On December 8, 2006, Gainey's 25 year-old daughter Laura Gainey was swept overboard while sailing in the North Atlantic. Gainey temporarily passed his GM duties on to assistant manager Pierre Gauthier while awaiting word on efforts to find his daughter.

"It's a great honor to be named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens," Gauthier said. "I've always thought that working in the National Hockey League is an honor. Working as a general manager is also a great honor. But working for the Montreal Canadiens as a general manager is the greatest honor." Gauthier was immediately bared with questions of the futures of Tomas Plekanec and the goaltending situation between Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak. When questioned about moving one of the goalies, "We'll never say never, but we have two very good goalies,” said Gauthier. Both goaltenders can become restricted free agents on July 1st. "We have two very strong, young goaltenders and they've been a very big part of our team this year." "They give us a chance to win every night. We believe that we can go forward with these two men," Gauthier said. Although speculation is Gauthier will wait until the summer to move one of this goalies, the surprises may only have begun in Montreal.