Pierre Gauthier 2009-10

[HABS-1966]

I'm wondering if anybody else was even considered. I was hoping for St.Patrick, nobody has the desire to win like he does.

Anyway good luck Pierre knowing us fans you'll need a large supply.

[BORN-a-HAB-_mtlc]

nahh this guy will ride out the rest of the season.. then make a bang.. hes not stupid i dont think ANYYYone would take GM for MTL if they didnt know what they where doing. give him a while i dont think he will trade away so soon.

[fourtrax]

IMO if Scott has a good (70+ point) season next year he becomes movable again.

Let's hope. If we can squeeze a 70-point season out of him and then flip him in the summer of 2011, hats off to Gauthier and Martin.

[habs-24]

According to a canoe.ca story, Gauthier said at today's press conf that he wouldn't be mortgaging the team's future for short-term help at the trade deadline. Can someone who watched the whole conference confirm or deny this? I only got home after the conference was already in progress.

If so, he's already setting my mind at ease, as I was terrified that Gainey would do just that in a desperate bid to get the team into the playoffs by any means necessary.

no he did not say that, he just said that he had dancing partners for march 3rd if he wanted them.

[habs-24]

I don't seriously expect Gomez to get traded, but if I had just become GM of the Habs, that's what I'd be trying to do.

ahaha yes for sure

first duty would be to deal with Gomez

[jst-onge]

Gauthier has to undo the salary cap mess that Gainey created, trade for NHL ready prospects so that the team won't have to stock the third and fourth lines with waiver wire veterans and provide some depth on defense.

The good news for Gauthier is that he inherits a fan base willing to pay more for mediocrity than most fans elsewhere pay for excellence. And none of his manhhood is tied up in Carey Price. I suspect if the organization has lost confidence in Price (and this is a speculation), Gainey had to step down before Price is traded.

I doubt that Gauthier can fix this mess in less than two years. But all of Montreal wants to see him assemble a team that can bring home a Cup.

<edited>You think Price who will a RFA in the Summer as well as Halak is Valuable think again. You trade Price you might get a 2nd round pick and Halak goes to the KHL because he can make 3-4 million there he will only get minimum in the NHL because Mtl will qualify him at the minimum, <edited>

Please watch how you reply to other members.

[gracie12]

I wouldn't put that much stock in what Gauthier is saying right now. With Bob's departure still fresh, he's not going to come out and say, "All right, the last guy was a hack and I'm going to make some moves!" He'll mouth the usual platitudes about continuing the great work begun by <insert previous GM name here>. Whatever moves he ends up making or not making, I doubt very much that what he says today will have any bearing.

Agreed.

Ive worked in jobs before where I was a supervison or assistant manager. I followed protocol of my boss & tried to make suggestions, but ultimately did what I was told. When I was promoted or given the reigns, I was a completely different manager - often taking the business in a different direction than originally intended.

Just because Gauthier worked under Gainey does not mean he will do the same things as Bob. Lets not forget the good work he did first in Ottawa & then in Anaheim. People credit Brian Burke with the anaheim cup win, but it was Gauthier who layed the groundwork for that team.

Lets give him some time...and then hang him.

[gracie12]

I don't seriously expect Gomez to get traded, but if I had just become GM of the Habs, that's what I'd be trying to do.

But who would you replace him with?

We've been over this before, Weep - and I agree his contract is obscene, but if we cant get a player of his calibre in return, whats the use of moving him? I do not want Plekanec & Maxwell as my top 2 centres. I also believe its no coincidence that Pleks has had a career year with Gomez as the other centre. Regardless of how he's played this year, teams target him (like they did with Kovalev before him) as a guy you have to 'watch' - this leaves more quality matchups for Pleks & his line. This would not happen with Maxwell or Lapierre as our other top centre.

Replacing Gomez with a guy who is maybe a #2b centre (which is likely all you're going to get either via trade or UFA) is not going to help things, imho. Yes, you might save $3m, but you could do that with Mara/Gill gone too.

If i were GM i would sign Pleks and then forget about my top 6. I would start looking at shedding salary on the blueline & see if there's any way I could find more affordable top 4 help (ie. a $3m defensman instead of Roman's $5.5m - as much as I love Hammer, I think his time here is done this summer).

[jst-onge]

<edited>You think Price who will a RFA in the Summer as well as Halak is Valuable think again. You trade Price you might get a 2nd round pick and Halak goes to the KHL because he can make 3-4 million there he will only get minimum in the NHL because Mtl will qualify him at the minimum, <edited>

Please watch how you reply to other members.

Replying in the exact manor that the orginal was written and suggesting that Gainey's manhood gotin the way should have been edited because after all is that not an attack against Gainey 's conduct as a GM I thinks so and I was only refering to the fact that trading any of our good young goalies would not in the best interest of the team and one who would do such a thing might have mud in their eye .

[flames4eva]

unlike when gainey was hired, PG doesn't appear to be a very popular choice for GM. I think he will have the trade deadline and offseason to work some miracles, else the knives will be out for him within 12 months.

I find it odd that a GM who is supposedly not interim would remain head of scouting. Has Geoff Molson turned into Al Davis and will be making the personnel decisions?

The unpopular choice has some merit as Gautnier was Bob's right-hand man (hired by him I am assuming as were the coaches et al). And to add to the skeptisism he was the man responsible as the team's pro scout for recommending players Bob seek out and try to acquire (UFA's etc.). Ultmately he didn't make that final decision but some of those players he has brought to Bob's attention were good... others not so good one could consider. And now he wants to maintain that control. Maybe BG felt PG deserved the opportunity to make good on his recommendations.

Agreed.

Ive worked in jobs before where I was a supervison or assistant manager. I followed protocol of my boss & tried to make suggestions, but ultimately did what I was told. When I was promoted or given the reigns, I was a completely different manager - often taking the business in a different direction than originally intended.

Just because Gauthier worked under Gainey does not mean he will do the same things as Bob. Lets not forget the good work he did first in Ottawa & then in Anaheim. People credit Brian Burke with the anaheim cup win, but it was Gauthier who layed the groundwork for that team. Lets give him some time...and then hang him.

He has also played a part in laying the groundwork here in Montreal as AGM and Pro-scout I would imagine (see above).

[mtl_-amp-danny]

But who would you replace him with?

We've been over this before, Weep - and I agree his contract is obscene, but if we cant get a player of his calibre in return, whats the use of moving him? I do not want Plekanec & Maxwell as my top 2 centres. I also believe its no coincidence that Pleks has had a career year with Gomez as the other centre. Regardless of how he's played this year, teams target him (like they did with Kovalev before him) as a guy you have to 'watch' - this leaves more quality matchups for Pleks & his line. This would not happen with Maxwell or Lapierre as our other top centre.

Replacing Gomez with a guy who is maybe a #2b centre (which is likely all you're going to get either via trade or UFA) is not going to help things, imho. Yes, you might save $3m, but you could do that with Mara/Gill gone too.

If i were GM i would sign Pleks and then forget about my top 6. I would start looking at shedding salary on the blueline & see if there's any way I could find more affordable top 4 help (ie. a $3m defensman instead of Roman's $5.5m - as much as I love Hammer, I think his time here is done this summer).

Completely agree with you. It is unfortunate as I have posted on other occassions we couldn't have obtained Gomez a few years agoe when he went to NYR and learned how to be an undisciplined liability. He wasn't like that in NJ. Don't forget BG did try and get him back then, but it didn't work out and he instead got way too much $ from Slats to sign there. Blame Slats for the absurd contract he has, not BG, or Gomez. Maybe he will turn it around. He seems to have played with more emotion since he returned from injury. And he definitley does buy Pleks some playing space against second and third liners.

[roy_133]

Blame Slats for the absurd contract he has, not BG, or Gomez.

When Gainey took on the contract he made it his contract. I don't think the contract is absurd as it's made out to be, I really believe him to be generally a 5-6 million dollar player but it is what it is and it's Gainey's responsibility, he took it off Sather's hands.

[19sakic1]

When Gainey took on the contract he made it his contract. I don't think the contract is absurd as it's made out to be, I really believe him to be generally a 5-6 million dollar player but it is what it is and it's Gainey's responsibility, he took it off Sather's hands.

put a cork in it, princess. suuuuurpriiiiise. look whos back

[fourtrax]

But who would you replace him with?

We've been over this before, Weep - and I agree his contract is obscene, but if we cant get a player of his calibre in return, whats the use of moving him? I do not want Plekanec & Maxwell as my top 2 centres. I also believe its no coincidence that Pleks has had a career year with Gomez as the other centre. Regardless of how he's played this year, teams target him (like they did with Kovalev before him) as a guy you have to 'watch' - this leaves more quality matchups for Pleks & his line. This would not happen with Maxwell or Lapierre as our other top centre.

Replacing Gomez with a guy who is maybe a #2b centre (which is likely all you're going to get either via trade or UFA) is not going to help things, imho. Yes, you might save $3m, but you could do that with Mara/Gill gone too.

If i were GM i would sign Pleks and then forget about my top 6. I would start looking at shedding salary on the blueline & see if there's any way I could find more affordable top 4 help (ie. a $3m defensman instead of Roman's $5.5m - as much as I love Hammer, I think his time here is done this summer).

Who would I replace him with? I'd try to find a high-risk but high reward centre prospect via draft or trade, get that player in the org, and start planning for the future. In the interim, I'd look at bringing back Saku for two more years to supply short-term help at a relatively cheap rate. But in my plan, we are aiming to contend only in a few years, not right now.

I'm all for shedding the lower-tier blue line help, but that doesn't actually free up much salary, and if you're willing to trade the only top-four d-man we have outside Markov, why not flip Gomez too? We won't be making any playoff noise with a blue line composed of Markov + kids, not for a few years at any rate.

[flames4eva]

"The Canadiens' freshly-minted GM was director of pro scouting when the team signed Samsonov.....

....The timing saves the Canadiens some embarrassment.

Gainey's contract is up in June. If the Canadiens miss the playoffs, the Molson group might have been obliged to fire him. That shouldn't happen to a man of Bob Gainey's stature. But keep that axe honed for Pierre Gauthier." Mike Boone

http://www.habsinsideout.com/boone/28947

Interesting read

[habs-24]

"The Canadiens' freshly-minted GM was director of pro scouting when the team signed Samsonov.....

....The timing saves the Canadiens some embarrassment.

Gainey's contract is up in June. If the Canadiens miss the playoffs, the Molson group might have been obliged to fire him. That shouldn't happen to a man of Bob Gainey's stature. But keep that axe honed for Pierre Gauthier." Mike Boone

http://www.habsinsideout.com/boone/28947

Interesting read

the axe is on the mantle closely by no worries lol

[S-Bah]

I hope Bob Gainey enjoys his rest, well deserved I might add and I hope Gauthier has a thick skin he will need it. There certainly isn't enough money in the Molson's pocket to pay for the abuse you are about to receive. The Roman's were easier on that guy with the Cross to bear than the shoes you are stepping into. Good Luck Pierre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[flames4eva]

the axe is on the mantle closely by no worries lol

Mediocre scouting.... ? - Michael Farber

While Montreal's amateur scouting has been constantly scrutinized because of the inability to hit a first-round home run -- the jury is still out on 22-year-old goalie Cary Price, drafted fifth overall in 2005 -- its pro scouting under Gainey was far more problematic. The Canadiens routinely erred in their evaluations of NHL players. Indeed in the past decade there might not have been a more lopsided player-for-player deal than Mike Ribeiro for Janne Niinimaa when Gainey settled for an end-of-the-line sixth defenseman in exchange for a player poised to become a No. 1 center in Dallas. (Although Ribeiro was viewed as a stray cat in Montreal, Gainey conceded last year that the trade truly was horrible.)

Sure, there were good ones. Moving Craig Rivet to San Jose at the deadline for Josh Gorges and a first -ounder (Max Pacioretty) was a deft stroke. Acquiring Alex Kovalev for Jozef Balej and a second-rounder -- then getting Kovalev to sign in Montreal -- was sublime. But too often the Canadiens' scouts failed to find the pieces on other teams that would fit nicely in Montreal. Alex Tanguay cost a first- and second-rounder. He lasted exactly one season before walking via free agency.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ...eref=si_writers

[leafs_rock_go_mccabe]

I'm unfamiliar with the things Pierre did in Ottawa and Anaheim that make him a sought after commodity, but I hope he finds success here in Montreal as the general manager. I wasn't expecting for him to be named anything more than an interim, but heck... I guess anything can happen. I'm a little anxious that Pierre, being Gainey's right-hand man for so long, might just continue the path of mediocrity. I don't know how fully he has been involved in the direction of the team over the past few seasons. I hope he can put his own stamp on this club, though. Gainey did some good things while he was here, but we need someone who can manage this club to the next level. Can Gauthier do that?

[flames4eva]

I'm unfamiliar with the things Pierre did in Ottawa and Anaheim that make him a sought after commodity, but I hope he finds success here in Montreal as the general manager. I wasn't expecting for him to be named anything more than an interim, but heck... I guess anything can happen. I'm a little anxious that Pierre, being Gainey's right-hand man for so long, might just continue the path of mediocrity. I don't know how fully he has been involved in the direction of the team over the past few seasons. I hope he can put his own stamp on this club, though. Gainey did some good things while he was here, but we need someone who can manage this club to the next level. Can Gauthier do that?

That's the plan according to Gauthier duriing the press conference. Can Gauthier do that? Good question... hope for a good answer.

[catt-_mtlc]

That's the plan according to Gauthier duriing the press conference. Can Gauthier do that? Good question... hope for a good answer.

He can say things that the fans want to hear but will he get it done is another matter. I hope he can but we'll see if its the same old mediocrity under a different name.

[catt-_mtlc]

He was on the Team 990 this afternoon seems like status quo when it comes to running the team, can't say I'm not disappointed.

[Rondalsf]

He was on the Team 990 this afternoon seems like status quo when it comes to running the team, can't say I'm not disappointed.

So we just basically changed wallpaper patterns.

[leafs_rock_go_mccabe]

He can say things that the fans want to hear but will he get it done is another matter. I hope he can but we'll see if its the same old mediocrity under a different name.

We shall see, I guess. I'm a little disappointed that the organization didn't seem to put much thought into looking elsewhere and just accepted Gainey's assistant as the general manager. Unless Gauthier's contract expires at the end of this season, as well. I would have preferred they named him interim and interviewed possible candidates during the Olympic break prior to the trade deadline. Isn't that how you find the best candidate for the job? By interviewing multiple candidates and then selecting one? Not just by taking the outgoing general manager's word for it.

[roy_133]

We shall see, I guess. I'm a little disappointed that the organization didn't seem to put much thought into looking elsewhere and just accepted Gainey's assistant as the general manager. Unless Gauthier's contract expires at the end of this season, as well. I would have preferred they named him interim and interviewed possible candidates during the Olympic break prior to the trade deadline. Isn't that how you find the best candidate for the job? By interviewing multiple candidates and then selecting one? Not just by taking the outgoing general manager's word for it.

Mr. Boivin said they gave all their options some thought, so I don't think it's fair to say they didn't look else where, they likely reviewed all available people that aren't under contract and decided to move forward with Mr. Gauthier and he's a good hockey man so I'm going to give him some time.

This job is so specialized and the skill set you look for is so rare that all you really need to do is look over a guy's resume/work history and you can pretty much conclude his philosophies. Atleast that's what Mr. Boivin made it sound like.