Wow!

BTW, if Pierre McGuire -- who seems to think he knows everything about hockey and can do a better job than most GMs and coaches -- was to step behind the Habs' bench, the players would just laugh and change the channel!!!

...just found out now at 6:20 AM PST out here on the Wrong Coast that Carbonneau was fired ...something I was previously surprised had not happened until now ...but still finally hearing it HAS happened is a violent kick in my groin ...Carbonneau was as important to Our last Stanley Cups as was Roy in my opinion ...You talk today about Koivu's heart ...Carbonneau had as large or larger ...he played the game DEFENSIVELY with passion ...the CH is embroidered in his heart ...I do not enjoy this day one bit ...I hope Carbo is kept in the organization, and can take over again next season ...MANY screwy personnel and strategic decisions were made, no doubt ...but what We must understand IS that collectively this Group Of Players were headless and gutless (starting with Kovalev...)...Carbo was often coaching with great FRUSTRATION ...a fresh coaching face is needed to pull out of the fire any remaining potential for the season ...but I fear Gainey will temporarily give some direction, and will ultimately be let down in the end with the same lack of collective professional heart ...we have a lot of talent ...a lot of potential ...one or two missing pieces ...but bringing this Team's collective heart to reignite will not be easy ...Gainey ? ...I think many of those calling for Gainey to be fired can not see the forest for the trees ...losing Gainey will set Us back years and would be a huge loss of Soul for the Organization overall Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049

Somebody tell McGuire to go back to Toronto and TSN where he belongs.

Years overdue. We've had a strong team that has managed to play well despite Carbo. He's made more bad in-game decisions and pre-game decisions than he has good ones. He can't even get one player to score 30+ goals on a team that has numerous guys who have proved time and again they can do that. His bad coaching finally caught up to this good team that has managed to put up with him until now. The best news I've heard all year. WOO-HOO!!

Gary320.... Your point is EXACTLY what's wrong with the BS attitudes with so many players and how difficult it is to coach flakes with this exact attitude. Grow a pair and suck it up I say to all the whining millionaires. If that's how you feel you being a fan, shame on you...go to California or Florida and don't forget the 65 sun screen....you'll need the protection I assume

Frustrating. I'm sick and tired of good coaches and smart hockey people, not to mention Canadiens Heroes, getting turfed because these damn cry-baby millionaires want to sit on their thumb and spin because "coach isn't communicating with me." This ain't f*cking eHarmony.com!! read the rest: http://habstwit.blogspot.com

I used to like McGuire, but after listening to him for years it's clear that he's no hockey authority. He's on Toronto radio so much and has been heaping praise on the Leafs for years - every move seems to be genius (obviously, almost every move has been a failure). Then I'll hear him on Montreal radio, and he seems to contradict himself on similar moves or decisions...in many ways be seems to have it out for the Habs. He's an entertainer that can't be taken seriously.

Timing is bizarre, But it is true that the team did not respond anymore, hence the firing. Playing role/gritty players when the game is on the line or as 1st line Power play units... sends a msg. But doing it over and over, looses the respect of players. Benching quality vets when they are playing well, creates a lack of respect between coaches and players. The constant changing of lines throws off the other coaches ability to match against you, but eventually that has to be frustrating for players and the other coach just does their own thing. All in all, it made Carbo look desperate, spiteful and emotional. All the qualities you do not want in a coach. Gutsy move Bob! If it works, you have to stay on as coach. No other coach is going to be able to handle the pressure of MTL media et al., unless they are seasoned and savvy coach... not too many of them available is there...

Mcguire: I love the move. Gainey: I'm proud of you. This is the ONLY thing that could give us a chance. Team is and was talented. You'll see, Pierre. And Boone.

do not listen to Pierre McGuire he talks out of the back of his neck & has no use for the Habs. GO HABS GO YOU TO GAINEY

McGuire is also the one that laughs at the Habs for not signing free agents despite their best efforts. Maybe Regis McGuire can take over both roles. He knows so much about everything. When's the last time he had a paying job in the NHL?

If I'm Bob, I hope I get canned so Guy and I can reboot in a sane hockey city. No offense to ourselves, but, dear reader,...would you play here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5zXLZHGI4 This is creepy as hell.

Ya ya....McGuire said, McGuire asked...blah blah blah! 20 games into the season McGuire had his head so far up Gainey's ass it wasn't funny. Now Gaineys farts and McGuire falls out. McGuire can stick to cleaning the glass between benches

You have to wonder if McGuire really has a clue of what a good coach is. I assumed someone or several someones were injured when I saw Metropolit on the powerplay against Atlanta. And the constant line changes and insisting on playing AK with Kovy for so long. Get a clue Pierre.

McGuire likes to have it both ways. He first says Carbo is gone because management didn't do its job [translation: Gainey didn't get Carbo the players he needed] then he says the Habs grossly underachieved [translation: Carbo didn't get the most from his talent]. Which one is it Pierre?

I'm surprised, because the move came this late, after a win, and with a home stand coming up. In a way, I'm glad this happened -- we'll see whether the cause of the players' ways was Carbo or whether it was the team Gainey assembled. If Gainey fails to right this ship, then I'm afraid he has to go as well. As for Koivu, he deserves better than years of rebuilding and the inconsistency taking place now. He may be what a real contender needs to win the Cup. I'd rather "Ray Bourque" him and see him win elsewhere than languish. My guess - Gainey will leave after this season taking a position in upper management to save his rep, Don Lever takes over behind the bench, Koivu signs in Minnesota for one or two years (taking some of the money that would have gone to Gaborik). I do agree about this - Begin deserved better, so did Ryder, so did SK74, so did Chipchura, so did Dandy.

I have a minor in psychology, but more to the point, I'm generally a pretty good judge of character. So for what it's worth, here's my hypothesis on what went wrong with Guy. It's quite simple, really... he's just too damn proud. Allow me to elaborate: As a player, Carbo was traded from Montreal under less than ideal situations when he became the target of typical media frenzy following an incident at a golf course where he gave the finger to a camera guy intruding on his game. Having been spurned by the local media before, Guy was determined to build a positive relationship with journalists in this, his second stint in the Montreal spotlight. He was a media darling, and was more than willing to speak openly with the press because it made his life easier to be loved than to be harassed. He is, to his great credit, a straight-talkin' kinda man, but I have my doubts about how much of his candour in front of the cameras was Carbo, and how much was personally motivated by a feeling of wanting to play the part just in order to appear better or more in charge and thus endear himself to the city. Carbo was so candid with the press that he betrayed his own self-doubt far, far, far too much. Why would you repeatedly admit to being out of ideas? Why show your hand to the table like that unless you just want your opponents to like you? You don't help the team by doing that. You don't instill in your players any sense that in spite of the rough seas you can still see the destination. And maybe you can't always see through the storm, but there's tremendous value in trying something and following through confidently with that plan, even if it doesn't work because often you learn why it didn't work, or discover something even better along the way. Guy's inaction just bred more inaction. Einstein said you can't solve problems using the same kind of thinking that was used when the problems were created. I sang with a choir where the director often said "I don't care if you don't sing the right notes, but sing them with conviction." Kinda the Kostopoulos approach... Tom the Bomb plays fearless and unselfish hockey. He plays for the team, and is far from the most gifted, but he's not going to quit on a play for fear of not succeeding. Guy quit on this team again and again. Incessant line combo changes, lack of team identity, incapacity to make in-game adjustments... These are all indications of someone who was unwilling to put a plan in motion with any gusto and see it out, even if it didn't pan out. He was too afraid to fail. He had too much pride. His being stubborn (a common criticism of Guy) was a side-effect of how proud he was... determined to stick with his old tactics because maybe at one point they worked, but to leave them would make him too vulnerable. The sad part is that what I conclude from all this is that it really means that the emphasis was not on winning, but on not losing. It wasn't about sacrifice to the team, it was about saving face. And that's disgusting. You want to talk to me about lack of character on this team? Well, I say it was missing from the head coach. He played his heart out on the ice, but I don't think he gave the same effort behind the bench.

Personally I like both Bob and Carbo. Ok Gainey has made some bad moves but so has every gm. Carbo did a good job coaching but ran into injuries and players not playing how they did the year before under him. He can only motivate people so much. People say he changed his lines too much but he did that last year and was up for coach of the year. The problem was the pressure on the players from the media and fans. Everything was hyped up and they couldn't handle it.

These players shouldn't call themselves professionals. They're a disgrace to the uniform.

Three guys who feel worse than Carbo: 1. Tom Kostopoulos: "but Bob, I am the go to guy....I need my 20 minutes a game." 2. Partrice Brisebois: "but Bob, I just need one more game!" 3. Georges Laraque: "but Bob, what do you mean I have to come back to the team? I have my tickets to Cancun booked!" A new beginning

I think you have to look at what influence Kovalev had in the dressing room. Also I hope Carbonneau takes a look at his coaching and communications and see how the game has changed and how the millionares have to be handled now. How many caches have gone down because players quit on the coach

Boone, you are the biggest hypocrite in Mtl. WOW, you say, You have been writing incessantly to get carbo's head for months. Most english media like you, love to hate the french speaking coaches. Let's put forth an english coach, and watch once again how the French speaking media gun for him and the english speaking media drool over him., THE REAL PROBLEM IS KOIVU! 7 COACHES HAVE COME AND GONE and koivu is still there. Have the habs ever had a cohesive team, where the room is not divided into clicks? the answer is no. Koivu is a horrible captain. He does not even come close to Carbonneau as a captain of the MTL canadians as far as Team Captain. Koive needs to go, that's it good bye hypocrite. the million dollar paid players win again, going behind the coach's back to cry to gainey. will it ever end?

McGuire tends to say whatever is politically expedient. At the end of the season he'll tell us how he always thought it was a good move. "Now the general manager has put himself in the hot seat" Yes he has, and I'm impressed. He's ready to take the fall. Bob did what I didn't think he was able to do. That is, fire a friend for the benefit of the greater good. I salute you, Bob. You has da balls! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDOW6KofuLo

Like him or not .. Gainey has guts , just when most of us thought this ship had been righted ..... with the comeback win on the road last nite , Bob pulled the pin. I thought when Gainey and not Carbo was the messenger and told Kovolev to stay at home for those 2 road games , things we're well in the locker room. Good luck to Don Lever ... he as certainly paid his dues as a player and coach .. Who would of ever thought all this in our 100th anniversery year,,

With practically the same breath McGuire says Gainey no longer deserves carte blanche AND that this is a team (assembled by Bob) that is capable of playing much better than they are?? So it's a condemnation for not trading for players to add to a team that is already reasonably well built but underperforming?? That sounds like a recipe for a coaching change to me, Pierre.

"McGuire added, "have grossly underachieved in the eyes of everyone around the National Hockey League. If you want to blame the coach, go ahead."" McGuire is a lid. If the team is "grossly underachieving" then yes you must blame the coach. I have no idea how this guy gets on TV and radio. The worst thing Carbo did during his time as coach in my eyes was when he kept coming back to Price in the playoffs last year. Having said all that I'm not sure I'd blame Carbo for this year. I watched the players quit on a lot of plays during the season.

Mcguire is bordering on douchebaggery with his comments. This is the guy who was furious when Gainey chose Carey Price over Gilbert Brule in the 2005 entry draft now he's Pricey's number one fan.

I'm completely shocked at this. With McGuire's comments you could say the same about Guy Carbonneau. I honestly thought Carbonneau would be the next Barry Trotz or Lindy Ruff. I thought Gainey would try to make Guy that and give the team coaching stability to go along with all the depth we have on the farm. By the way, even though there is enormous pressure to win here, Pierre is so out of line with his comments. Maybe Bob isn't a Ken Holland or even Tambellini, Burke, Chiarelli, or McPhee. I dunno. I'm not sure how you evaluate a GM. But aren't there 30 teams who want to win the Cup? Doesn't that average out to a win every 30 years? Has Bob really done so badly? I found an earlier comment interesting, saying that Bob would retire at season's end. I think he would only do that if Montreal misses the playoffs. ...but wait...isn't this year 5 of his so-called 5-year plan? I hope he wasn't just planning on ditching us. I think I believe in Gainey so much because I grew up during the Houle/Tremblay/Corey era. I don't need to make any more comments about them. Here's to no more re-building!

Pierre mcguire says... i think a lot of people over estimate the value of Mcguire's comments. Head coach in the NHL: 1 season for the Hartford Whalers assistant GM: about a season as an NHL player: 0 games... Good move by gainey in bringing Lever up and keeping the assistants in place. Lever has shown a great deal of coaching ability at the AHL level. He has built relationships with many of the players on the Habs. I think Muller, Jarvis, and Melansen should stay.

Mcguire is not the be all end all.Doesn't know everything or he would be the most wanted man in hockey to help their team.Although Mr. know it all loves to amplify Montreal's troubles. Something that I have distaste of him for.I am not surprised...only that it took this long.

My question is why now. H had ample time during the season. Yes I know it is to whip the boys and light the fire up their butt... But come on.. He could have waited until the summer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Koivu for Prime Minister...

If anyone is listening to Jacques Demers on RDS hes completely right about, "its the players who decide who they want to play for, and the players have let Gainey & The fans know, they could not play for Carbo..." he spoke about what the penguin players did with Therrien, is the exact same thing thats happened here...Carbo had to go, its what happens in this business...I just hope Gainey can right this ship.. "I've never bothered to thank the Montreal Canadiens Organization...They drove me to drink..."

WOW, I never expected to see this much Gainey bashing??? I believe Gainey made the only move he could to make this team better. Honestly, I like the group assembled & I also believe Carbonneau's problem was lack of expeiernce. Infact that was Gainey's biggest mistake as GM, placing Carbonneau inthis position to start.

If that is an accurate Mcguire quote it doesn't make sense, he contradicts himself. He appears to be talking just to talk.

Chris Higgins brother, on hfboards.com, tipped us off to this news about 30min before it broke. He was texting Higgins, when Chris Higgins sent him a reply saying something huge about to go down today.

I agree with Gainey's decision. Sure we've had some wins but we've been grossly outplayed giving up 40 shots a game. I think Gainey just got tired of watching the teams on-ice system which either the players weren't buying into or was innefective. Hopefully Bob has a better idea. With Don Lever to work with the kids, I think this is a move not only for now but for the future.

Ok so here goes, I said Carbo should be let go. There he goes, now I can root back for the Habs. He was stubborn, and always showed up either the refs or the players (Kovalev). I believe when Kovy was sat down it was a test for Carbo. The indiscipline was a message to BG that this team will drown before they play for Carbo. I never thought he communicated well. Now we'll find out how BG does. But I think they will go far. Price will be better. Humiliating players does ot work. It worked in the 70s but not in our time. Guess GG didn't want to lose that playoff money called BG and said if we don't make the playoffs everyone is gone.... Now, he knows how to communicate.

Who wants t bet that the lines are changed tomorrow and brisbois is in the line-up? Nice timing too - right AFTER the road trip. Gainey's got to go to - should be replaced with someone with passion who will manage aggressively instead of passively.

NOT A GOOD MOVE BY MR. GAINEY - CARBONNEAU WAS A VERY GOOD PLAYERS COACH AND GAINEY HAS MADE NO MOVES REGARDING PLAYER PERSONNEL - THIS TEAM, AS IS, IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH -THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM - JUST REVIEW SOME OF GAINEY'S MOVES THE LAST 2-3 YEARS - ALL NEGATIVE - RIBEIRO - RYDER - ZEDNIK -ZUBRUS - HUET - RIVET - JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHAT A SHAME!!!

Don Lever IS coming up to coach with Gainey. Would be doubtful for him not to get the head coaching job next season. Plus, half his team is in Montreal anyway. Also, Gainey now gets to evaluate his 11 UFAs... Bet they're gonna work their asses of to impress the boss! http://starshinediva.blogspot.com

WOW is right! Although I respect Mr. Mcguire's opinions immensely, I don't agree with him at all.

For the conspiracy theorists out there, Pat Hickey was on Team 990 earlier and he stated that some of the players on the team were unhappy that the team didn't head back to Montreal after the game last night. Instead, the team decided to stay the night in Dallas. Carbo just happens to have family in Dallas from when he played there, and this may have been why the team stayed overnight.

Agreed on Lever

Does not make any sense. Carbo was runner up for coach of the year last year with the Habs best regular season in years. Gainey fired Julien a few years ago and he will probable be coach of the year this year. Also, Gainey just signed Carbo for three years. Carbo has not gone from an excellent coach to a lousy coach that needs to be fired in less than six months since he signed the three year deal. Gainey and the players playing with no emotion are more to blame for the recent poor results. Gainey for signing Laraque to a ridiculous contract, not signing any of the other players, and not replacing Lang. Gainey has one a poor job of managing the cap especially carrying three expensive extra players in Laraque, Begin, and Dandeneault; about 4.4 M$ of wasted cap. That handcuffed him at the trade deadline and he had to settle for Metropolit. Ed.

Personally, I believe that Gainey will now resign at seasons end as well!!!

What about bringing up Don Lever to coach the team? 2008-09 Montreal Canadiens - Stanley Cup or bust!

I am going to LMAO watching Gainey behind the bench of this disinterested, sissy-ass team. If he makes the Canadiens play an iota better than they did before, I'll eat Timo's slippers. Gainey built this team, and now he has to coach it. He signed these guys, and didn't even think they needed any help at the deadline. He's called all the shots here. If Gainey can't get them to play better, he needs to get canned for what is starting to look like really clueless management.

i think carbo's stubborness with ttb and metropolit on the 5-3 was the final straw. ttb has averaged almost 2 minutes more a game than koivu since the losing streak began.

Did Bob Gainey possibly just shut up every single person here who's been pissing and moaning about Carbonneau for the past X months? Yes. I think he did. Will it start all over after the Habs first loss regardless of who's behind the bench? Yes. I think it will. Oooo... Maybe we'll get a motivated Sergei back! :)

123-84-24. Status quo was the way to go. The plot thickens and although im upset Guy (who is not going to be unemployed long) is gone Im also a little excited at what could happen.

Boone, I'm not so sure that Gainey made this move because he didn't think Carbo could get them into the playoffs. Instead, I'd say that he really believes in this team, and he didn't see them having any chance at a playoff run under Carbo. I think everyone in Montreal has had the expectations lowered, other than Gainey.

Well, I for one am dissapointed, I hope Bob comes down haed on all the underacheivers who brought this on.

Yes, Pierre, the Habs underachieving on the ice is totally Gainey's fault... we know he is an horrible GM for not trying to trade for Olli Jokinen like you advocated... we know you think anything short of a conference final is a dismal failure... ...forgive me, but I don't agree. I think Gainey has done a good job gradually improving this team. Seriously, Pierre, if Gainey has put a roster good enough that 5th place is "gross underachievement", don't you think blaming him is a little... odd?