MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens fired general manager Pierre Gauthier after a dismal season Thursday, and split with former Montreal great Bob Gainey, insisting such play will not be tolerated by a franchise long part of hockey history.
"We need to remember that our fans want us to win, period," owner Geoff Molson said. "Our organizational culture is to support and adopt this passion for victory. Nothing else matters."
A string of moves by Gauthier failed to revive Montreal, which has been hit by injuries and is 29-34-14, last in the Eastern Conference.
"Everyone in this organization, including our players, expected better," said Molson, stressing the Canadiens' standard is to reach the top, not just make the playoffs.
Gainey, whom Gauthier succeeded as GM, is leaving his role as team adviser, Molson said at the news conference. Gainey and Gauthier are longtime friends.
Serge Savard, another former Canadiens star, will advise Molson in the search for a new GM.
Molson praised the team's fans and spoke of a restoration to the day when the Canadiens ruled the NHL, pointing to a stockpile of draft picks and promises of acquiring new talent.
Gauthier fired assistant Perry Pearn and then-coach Jacques Martin in mid-December, only to find himself in even more trouble for appointing Randy Cunneyworth as interim coach.
Cunneyworth, however, does not speak French. Faced with protests from some Quebec nationalist groups and an ongoing controversy in the media, Gauthier apologized and promised that a French-speaking coach would be behind the bench next season.
In February, Molson resorted to Twitter to deny that Gauthier had been dismissed. Gauthier was hired as GM and executive vice president in February 2010, taking over from Gainey. He joined the organization in 2003 when he was appointed director of professional scouting.