After dismal season, Habs fire GM Pierre Gauthier

After one of their worst seasons in recent memory, the Montreal Canadiens have fired general manager Pierre Gauthier.

Team owner Geoff Molson will hold a news conference at 11:45 a.m. Thursday to discuss the move.

Gauthier paid the price for a 29-34-14 season that has the Habs languishing in the Eastern Conference basement.

Shortly after the move was announced, Gauthier sent out a tweet in French.

“Thank you to Mr. Molson and the entire Canadiens organization,” it said. “Goodbye and good luck.”

A string of moves this season did not revive the struggling Canadiens.

Gauthier fired assistant coach Perry Pearn and then head coach Jacques Martin, only to find himself in even hotter water for appointing the unilingual Randy Cunneyworth as interim coach.

At one point, Molson resorted to Twitter to deny rumours during the season that Gauthier too had been axed.

Gauthier was named GM and executive vice-president in February 2010, taking over from Bob Gainey.

He joined the organization in July 2003 when he was appointed director of professional scouting.