Montreal fires GM Pierre Gauthier

The Montreal Canadiens have fired general manager Pierre Gauthier after a dismal season.

The Canadiens are last in the Eastern Conference with a 29-34-14 record.

Team owner Geoff Molson will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the move. The club says in a release the search for a new general manager ''is underway.''

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

Gauthier fired assistant coach Perry Pearn and then head coach Jacques Martin. He appointed Randy Cunneyworth as interim coach.

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

Gauthier was hired as 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.