New Habs’ GM quickly settles two big questions

MONTREAL—Less than 30 minutes after taking over as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Pierre Gauthier already had managed to settle two of the biggest questions facing the team.
After Bob Gainey announced he would be stepping down immediately to take on a role as a special adviser with the club, Gauthier addressed the future of impending unrestricted free agent Tomas Plekanec and the short-term future of the team’s two goalies ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.

Speculation had run rampant that Plekanec would be allowed to hit the free agent market on July 1 and that either Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price would be traded by the deadline.
Not so, said Gauthier.
“We have two very strong, young goaltenders, and they’ve been a very big part of our team this year,” Gauthier said.
“They give us a chance to win every night, that’s a very important thing in a very close league.
“We believe that we can go forward with these two young men and that’s our best chance to get into the playoffs this year,” Gauthier added.
“That’s a strong position, and we’d like to keep it strong.”
On the future of Plekanec, Gauthier said talks have begun with his agent, Rick Curran, to lay the groundwork for a new contract for the team’s leading scorer.
“We’ve both exchanged the wishes of staying together,” noted Gauthier. “I think Tomas would like to stay with the Montreal Canadiens and we’d certainly like to keep him.”
Curran confirmed discussions indeed have begun regarding Plekanec’s next contract and that the desire to come to an agreement is mutual.
“We did have a good discussion, a lengthy discussion,” Curran told The Canadian Press yesterday evening. “I think it’s appropriate [to start discussions now].
“They have a young player that will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season that they’ve expressed interest in keeping.
“For my part, Tomas has always been a member of the Montreal Canadiens and I’ve suggested to them very strongly that it would be his initial intention to remain with them,” Curran added.
Gauthier’s two declarations yesterday were a big change. Gainey previously had said that any discussion regarding the Plekanec contract would remain private and that he was open to trading Halak prior to the deadline.
Otherwise, the move from Gainey to Gauthier was one made with continuity in mind. Gauthier has served as Gainey’s head of pro scouting throughout his six-and-a-half-year tenure as the Canadiens’ general manager.
Gauthier added the title of assistant GM in 2006.
Gainey said he approached team president Pierre Boivin over the holidays to tell him he would not be seeking a contract extension beyond June.
Boivin began internal discussions on searching for a replacement, but said they did not last very long because the ideal candidate already was in house and there was no reason to look elsewhere.
“When you look at the criteria to be successful in this job in this market, you come to a list of individuals who have experience, who have the ability to communicate in both [official] languages, who have a track record and who are prepared to be here,” Boivin said.
“We were fortunate that person was in our organization already,” Boivin noted.
Gauthier, a perfectly-bilingual Montreal native, has had two stints as an NHL general manager in Ottawa (1995-98) and Anaheim (1998-2002).
In both cases, he laid the foundation for future success, with Ottawa reeling off nine-straight seasons of 94 points or more after he resigned and Anaheim reaching the Stanley Cup final the year after he was replaced by current Senators’ GM Bryan Murray.
That same process of laying a foundation only has just begun with the Canadiens, added Gauthier. The team underwent a complete roster overhaul in the summer, with seven new players coming in through free agency or trades.
The Canadiens will do everything possible to make the playoffs, but will not mortgage the future at the trade deadline to acquire short-term solutions, he added.