Stepping down a scant few weeks before the trade deadline?

Ahh well, it’s not as if this is any big loss to the Canadiens.

The Habs were a disaster in 2003 when Bob took over. They didn’t have a waiting list for season tickets, fans were fickle to the point of being dispassionate, and the team couldn’t attract a single quality free agent. I mean, before Gainey, the best they could do was get a 37 year old Randy Mackay or Doug Gilmour to finish their career in town. Now they can get some of the top talent on the free market to sign on the dotted line, like Mike Cammalleri did.

Players will play here now. Not all of them, but some good ones will take up the challenge. The Habs are one of the biggest money makers in the league, and the season ticket waiting list is ridiculous. Gainey was a huge reason for these things.

And say what you will about the players TSN mentioned… Gainey acquired their leading scorer for 4 straight years for practically nothing, Huet led the league in save percentage one year, Gorges is a quality cap friendly top 4 D, Cammalleri is a 35-40 goal scorer and Carey Price is still the most decorated goaltender 22 years or younger in the world. Guy Carbonneau is an odd one to put on there, but they did finish 1st in the East one year under him.

Gainey’s been through the ringer the past few years, both personally and professionally. The past 18 months he’s made some bizarre moves that really seem to show he was unraveling.

I think it’s a good call for him to step down, and the timing isn’t so bizarre considering his replacement can take the Olympic break to wrap his head around everything going into the trade deadline.

If I were Gainey I’d take a month long vacation somewhere tropical, quiet, and with full bar.