Carbonneau Unexpectedly Gets The Axe As Montreal Canadiens Head Coach
In what can be summed up as taking a huge risk, the Montreal Canadiens made a major shakeup on Monday when they fired head coach Guy Carbonneau with only 16 games to go and replacing him with current general manager Bob Gainey.
“The last eight weeks of performance have been below average, and I believe a change in the direction at ice level is necessary,” said Gainey who takes over a slumping team who is currently seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Gainey who originally hired Carbonneau back on May 5, 2006 saw his team get off to a sizzling start this season until right after the January 25 All Star game where without any warning went into the tank in winning just three out of their next 15 games and found themselves in danger of possibly missing out on post season play.
“With 16 games left in the season, I believe that the change was necessary to maximize our chances of being one of the teams to participate in the playoffs this coming spring.”
Gainey, who took over behind the bench in 2006 after firing Claude Julien will be starting that second stint at home when the Canadiens who currently have 77 points will be taking on the Edmonton Oilers who are life and death themselves to make the playoffs in the ever tough Eastern Conference.
In taking over, Gainey who went 23-15-3-0 after taking over in 2006, promises no drastic changes but did say that he wants the team to be improved defensively, while is more consistent.
“(Carbonneau) took a very difficult job (as coach) and tried his best to advance the team,” said Gainey whose squad won their final game under Carbonneau by a 3-1 score against the Dallas Stars. ” “It’s never an easy message to deliver to anyone; but it was at a point where I felt it was needed.”
Last year Carbonneau who was in his second season behind the Habs bench was a Jack Adams finalist after leading the Canadiens into the second round of the playoffs where they were eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers. In his tenure with Montreal this veteran coach accumulated an impressive record of 124-83-23.
Only time will tell about whether the veteran GM made the right move in switching coaches so close to playoff time.
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